Three people have died in the Philippines after a building collapsed; rescue efforts are ongoing
In the Philippines, rescue workers have pulled two more people from the rubble of a building that collapsed during construction in Angeles City, north of Manila. As a result, the death toll has risen to three, according to local officials. Search and rescue operations at the scene of the tragedy are ongoing.
This was reported by Al Jazeera.
According to emergency services, one of the victims showed signs of life during the rescue but later died. Another person suffered cardiac arrest while still trapped under the rubble, said Maria Leia Sahili, a representative of the Fire Protection Bureau.
Meanwhile, rescuers continue to search for other people who may remain under the rubble. Currently, 17 people are considered missing, most of them construction workers who were on shift at the time of the incident.
According to official data, up to 70 people could have been working at the construction site, but some workers had gone home for the weekend, which may have reduced the number of people present at the time of the collapse.
Rescuers emphasize that the operation is extremely difficult due to the risk of further structural collapses. Any sudden movements could trigger new landslides and complicate rescue efforts.
As a representative of the fire department noted, “rescue operations during a building collapse are extremely difficult, as any sudden movement caused by the actions of rescuers can trigger structural shifts and crush people under the rubble.”
She also added that such movements “could also bury the rescuers themselves,” so operations are currently being conducted primarily by hand.
If there is no further confirmation of people alive under the rubble, rescuers plan to bring in excavators and other heavy equipment to clear the site. However, no specific timeline for the completion of the operation has been announced yet.
The causes of the collapse of the multi-story building are currently being investigated.
Earlier in the Philippines, one of the country’s most famous and dangerous volcanoes—Mayon—became active again. Its activity has risen to the third danger level, and lava is already flowing in several areas.
