The death toll from the May 24 collapse of an under-construction condotel in Angeles City, Pampanga rose to 26 on Wednesday after six more bodies, including an infant, were recovered from the debris.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Central Luzon said the infant, recorded as the 21st fatality, was retrieved from Quadrant 2 of the collapsed nine-story building in Barangay Balibago at 6 pm Tuesday.
“Responders successfully extricated Victim #21, an infant, from Quadrant 2 of the collapsed structure in Brgy. Balibago, Angeles City,” BFP Central Luzon said in a social media post.
Five more bodies were recovered on Wednesday as search, rescue and retrieval operations continued at the collapse site.
The BFP said the 22nd fatality was extricated at 7:21 am “following sustained search, rescue, and retrieval operations.”
The 23rd body was recovered at around 9:12 am, followed by the 24th at 10:57 am, the 25th at 3:45 pm, and the 26th at 6:40 pm.
“The confirmed casualty at the collapse site in Brgy. Balibago, Angeles City has now risen to 26, as the Unified Command successfully extricated another individual,” BFP Central Luzon said after the latest retrieval.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine possible liability on the part of the building owner, identified as Ernest Jackson Lim, and the contractor, Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corporation.
Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II earlier called on the owner and contractor to come forward and explain the circumstances behind the collapse.