Rescue Teams Search for Up to 40 People After Philippines Building Collapse

A nine-story building under construction collapsed Sunday in Angeles City, north of the Philippine capital, trapping an estimated 30 to 40 people under concrete and twisted metal. City information officer Jay Pelayo told DZBB radio that eight people in the vicinity were rescued and 11 others, including the site foreman, escaped on their own.

Search and rescue teams continued operations into the evening, with ambulances and fire trucks deployed to the site in the Balibago district. Pelayo said moving the concrete debris posed a significant challenge for rescuers. Power lines damaged in the collapse were being secured, and authorities urged nearby residents to cooperate so operations could proceed without further risk.

The cause of the collapse remains under investigation.

Pelayo stated the city engineer is reviewing the construction history and that the unified command system has not yet completed its assessment.

“The assessment is not yet finished. ”

Images from the scene showed the structure reduced to a heap of rubble covered in green netting.