One dead, 20 feared trapped after building collapse near Manila
Quick Look
- A nine-storey building under construction collapsed near Manila, Philippines, killing one person and trapping an estimated 20.
- Rescuers have saved 24 from the site and two from a nearby hotel.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A nine-storey building under construction collapsed early Sunday in Angeles, Philippines, approximately 90km northwest of Manila. The collapse occurred around 03:00 local time, trapping an unknown number of people, believed to be construction workers.
At least one person has been killed and about 20 people are feared trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed early on Sunday in a city near the Philippine capital, Manila.
A search operation has so far rescued 24 people from the site in Angeles and two from a nearby hotel that was struck by falling debris.
The nine-storey building had still been under construction when it suddenly gave way around 03:00 local time on Sunday (19:00 GMT on Saturday). Officials are now investigating the cause of the collapse.
Many of those trapped are thought to be construction workers who were unable to escape in time.
Later on Sunday, local officials said the person confirmed to have died was a 65-year-old man from Malaysia, who had reportedly been staying in the hotel.
He had managed to communicate with rescuers by phone while pinned under a hotel wall, acting Philippine fire chief Rico Kwan Tiu told the AFP news agency.
"When we retrieved him... he was already lifeless," he said.
Images from the scene showed a mangled heap of scaffolding and concrete splaying out onto the street, covered by green safety netting.
City information officer Jay Pelayo told AFP that the building's walls and scaffolding surrounding it had buckled, likely trapping people in a pile of debris.
"There are big chunks of concrete, and we need equipment to lift them up," he said. "That is what's challenging for the rescue right now."
Five people have been confirmed as trapped, two of whom have been able to make contact with rescue workers, according to Reuters, with more feared to be under the rubble.
An eyewitness told the Daily Tribune newspaper that she heard a loud rumbling moments before the collapse. She said she briefly lost consciousness, waking up to see debris covering two streets.
Angeles sits around 90km (50 miles) to the north-west of Manila, on Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the Philippines.
Construction work in the far east Asian nation is frequently beset by poor planning and project management, as well as design errors, research suggests.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
An investigation into the cause of the collapse will be completed.
Very likely · Within weeks
Further casualties may be discovered as rescue efforts continue.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What was the exact cause of the building collapse?
- How many people are still trapped under the rubble?
- What are the conditions of the trapped individuals?
- Were there any safety violations at the construction site?
