Two more bodies were recovered from the rubble of the nine-story condotel in Angeles City, Pampanga, that collapsed on May 24, bringing the death toll to 12, the Bureau of Fire Protection said Monday.
BFP Central Luzon said at least 10 people remain missing as search, rescue, retrieval, and clearing operations continue at the collapse site.
The first body was extricated at 10:33 p.m. Sunday, while the second was retrieved at 4:12 a.m. Monday.
“As of this time, we have already recovered 12 bodies,” Superintendent Ma. Leah Sajili, BFP Central Luzon spokesperson, said in a radio interview.
Sajili said the Incident Command Center report showed that around 10 individuals remain unaccounted for.
The search, rescue, and retrieval operations, led by BFP Central Luzon, are continuing around the clock to locate the missing victims.
“We are doing a combination of search and rescue operation and clearing operation,” Sajili said.
She admitted that the chance of finding survivors has become slim, but said rescuers have not lost hope.
“It’s small, but we are not losing hope. We can still find survivors from the collapsed structure,” Sajili said.
She assured families of the missing that responders are working 24/7 despite exhaustion.
“We are doing our best to rescue their relatives,” Sajili said.
“If we can’t do that, we’ll make sure we will find their bodies and bring them to you so they will be given proper respect before their burial,” she added.
“We are conducting the search, rescue and clearing operation continuously, 24/7,” Sajili said.