In a tragic incident in Angeles City, north of Manila, Philippines, a nine-storey building under construction has collapsed, leaving approximately 30 to 40 individuals feared trapped beneath the rubble. The collapse occurred on Sunday, and rescue operations are currently in progress to locate and save those who are missing.

Rescue Efforts Underway

According to Jay Pelayo, the Angeles City information officer, eight people who were in the vicinity of the building have been rescued, while 11 others, including the site foreman, managed to escape the collapse. The site foreman provided information that led to the estimate of 30 to 40 people being unaccounted for.

Search and rescue teams are facing significant challenges due to the building’s concrete structure, which complicates the removal of debris. Images shared by local media show the building reduced to a pile of concrete and twisted metal, covered in green netting.

Investigation into the Cause

The cause of the collapse remains unclear, and the city engineer is currently reviewing the construction history to determine any potential factors that led to the incident. Pelayo emphasized that the assessment is ongoing, and it is too early to draw conclusions about what caused the building to fall.

In addition to the immediate rescue efforts, power lines in the area were affected by the collapse and are being secured to prevent further hazards. Authorities are urging local residents to cooperate with the ongoing rescue operations to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.