A nine-story building under construction in a city north of the Philippine capital of Manila collapsed before dawn on Sunday, leaving at least 21 people missing, authorities reported. Rescuers were "hearing voices" from the rubble, while 24 workers managed to escape or were rescued, police and other officials said.
Collapse After Thunderstorm
The building collapsed following a fierce thunderstorm in Angeles City, located in Pampanga province. More than 100 police and other government personnel were scrambling to rescue those believed to be trapped, according to Police Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez. Mendez and other officials at the scene said there were no immediate reports of deaths, but some of the survivors sustained injuries.
Missing and Injured
Among the 21 people who remained unaccounted for, most were believed to be workers at the building, said Francis Pangilinan, head of Angeles City's disaster mitigation office. Two other individuals, including a Malaysian tourist, were injured when their lodgings were hit by debris from the collapsed structure, officials reported.
Rescue Efforts Underway
Rescuers, including firefighters, police, and disaster-response teams, used their hands and sniffer dogs in a dangerous scramble to search for trapped survivors. Public Works Secretary Vinzon Dizon told reporters near the rubble of concrete slabs, twisted iron bars, and other debris: "There are some signs of life... There are voices that are being heard." He added that rescuers were moving with extreme caution because the site was very unstable, emphasizing that the priority was to get people out.
Background of Angeles City
Angeles City once hosted one of the largest U.S. Air Force bases outside the American mainland until its closure in the early 1990s. This helped develop Angeles and surrounding cities and towns into entertainment and commercial hubs in the main northern Philippine region of Luzon. The former air base, now called the Clark Freeport Zone, is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Metro Manila.
