At least 23 construction workers remained trapped Sunday after a nine-story condominium hotel under construction collapsed in Angeles City, Pampanga, prompting a major search and rescue operation led by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Central Luzon.
The structure, located in Barangay Balibago, gave way at around 3 am, according to the Angeles City Public Information Office. The workers were reportedly staying in the basement of the building when the collapse happened.
Authorities said the area had experienced heavy rains and strong winds hours before the incident, but officials stressed that the cause of the collapse had yet to be determined.
BFP-Central Luzon spokesperson Superintendent Ma. Leah Sajili said 24 people had been rescued as of Sunday afternoon, with 11 brought to hospitals for treatment of injuries.
“As of today, the total number of trapped victims is 23,” Sajili said during a press briefing.
She said five of the trapped workers had been confirmed by their families, while 18 others were still undergoing verification. No deaths had been reported as of around 2 pm Sunday.
Angeles City information officer Jay Pelayo said a unified command system had been established, with the BFP-Central Luzon taking the lead in the rescue efforts. He said eight workers with minor injuries were rescued shortly after the collapse, while a Malaysian tourist who was trapped in a nearby building was also brought to safety.
Pelayo said a foreman and 10 workers managed to escape from the building moments after the collapse. The foreman initially told authorities that around 30 to 40 workers could still be trapped inside, but Sajili later clarified that the validated figure stood at 23.
Authorities were also monitoring signs of life beneath the rubble. Sajili said rescuers located two trapped victims after hearing them groaning in pain, but they could not yet be immediately pulled out due to safety risks.
“We’re working to save the two,” Sajili said.
She said rescuers were proceeding with “extreme precaution” because any careless movement of the debris could endanger both the trapped victims and the rescue teams.
Pelayo said Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and other national government officials went to the site to inspect the area and coordinate assistance.
“Coordination with authorities is orderly and the support from the national agencies is overwhelming,” Pelayo said.
The building is owned by Ernest Jackson Lim, according to city officials. Pelayo said the owners secured a building permit from the Angeles City government in 2023, with construction starting the following year.
Sajili said the permit covered a nine-story building, but workers were reportedly constructing a 10th level intended to accommodate a swimming pool.
Asked whether the heavy rains triggered the collapse, Pelayo said investigators had not reached any conclusion.
“It’s still too early to speculate what caused the collapse of the building. As of now, the rescue operation is ongoing. Our effort is continuing,” he said.
Barangay Balibago chairman Joseph Ponce also cautioned against premature conclusions, saying the investigation was not yet complete. He said the collapse occurred after heavy rains and strong winds toppled some trees along secondary roads in the area.
Ponce said some of the rescued workers told him that 15 to 20 people may still be inside, as the workers’ barracks were located in the basement.
Authorities said the priority remained the rescue of those still trapped while investigators look into possible structural, construction, and permitting issues surrounding the collapse.