Building Collapse Near Manila Kills One, Traps Others

A nine-storey building under construction collapsed early Sunday in Angeles, a city about 90 km northwest of Manila, killing one person and leaving others feared trapped under rubble. Rescue teams pulled 24 people from the site and two more from a nearby hotel struck by falling debris. Officials said five people have been confirmed trapped, two of whom have contacted rescuers.

The structure gave way around 03:00 local time Sunday.

Images showed scaffolding and concrete spread across the street beneath green safety netting. Acting Philippine fire chief Rico Kwan Tiu told AFP that a 65-year-old Malaysian man staying at the hotel was retrieved lifeless after communicating with rescuers by phone while pinned under debris.

City information officer Jay Pelayo told AFP that walls and scaffolding had buckled, creating large concrete chunks that require heavy equipment to move.

Officials are investigating the cause of the collapse.

Many of those feared trapped are believed to be construction workers. An eyewitness told the Daily Tribune she heard loud rumbling before losing consciousness and later saw debris covering two streets. Angeles lies on Luzon, the Philippines' largest island. Construction projects in the country have previously faced issues with planning and design, according to research cited by Reuters.