The death toll from the collapse of an under-construction condotel in Angeles City, Pampanga has climbed to 23 after responders recovered three more bodies, including that of an infant, authorities said Wednesday.
The nine-story structure in Barangay Balibago collapsed on May 24, triggering days of search, rescue, and retrieval operations.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Central Luzon said the infant, listed as the 21st fatality, was extricated from Quadrant 2 of the collapsed building at around 6 pm Tuesday.
“Responders successfully extricated Victim #21, an infant, from Quadrant 2 of the collapsed structure in Brgy. Balibago, Angeles City,” the BFP Central Luzon said.
Search teams recovered the 22nd fatality at 7:21 am Wednesday as retrieval operations continued at the site.
The 23rd body was later found at around 9:12 am, also on Wednesday, according to the BFP.
“The Unified Command has extricated the confirmed 23rd casualty at the collapse site of Brgy. Balibago, Angeles City,” the BFP Central Luzon said.
The Angeles City information office said the latest body was recovered from the rubble past 9 am and turned over to the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives for processing.
As of 9:30 am Wednesday, authorities confirmed that 23 people had died in the tragedy.