A NINE-STOREY building being constructed in Angeles City collapsed Sunday afternoon resulting in the death of two persons — including a foreign national, with 23 people still missing, the local government unit confirmed.
According to an update provided by Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 24 individuals have been rescued with validation and coordination ongoing for a full accounting of all those affected.
Search and rescue teams under the unified command system are still looking for 23 people believed to be under the rubble.
Under the unified system, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will serve as the lead agency to ensure coordination as national and neighboring local agencies rush to the site to help in the rescue and clearing efforts.
According to the BFP, the Malaysian national, who was just visiting the country as a tourist, was trapped inside the apartelle next to the collapsed building.
The cause of the collapse has remained under investigation, but Angeles City Mayor Jon Lazatin vowed to look into the possibility that substandard materials were used in the construction of the building. He also hinted at probing construction procedures, including soil testing.
The Department of Public Works and Highways deployed two dump trucks, a backhoe, a boom truck and a crane. Government engineers were also sent to assist in the search and clearing works — in coordination with the BFP.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority likewise dispatched its search and rescue team.
The neighboring Bulacan provincial government also sent a team with thermal drones to assist rescuers in locating survivors beneath the rubble.
