30 to 40 people were reported missing based on information from the site foreman
Dozens of people are feared trapped under rubble after a nine-storey building under construction collapsed in Luzon, the Philippines.
Several, including the site foreman, managed to escape, and 24 others in the vicinity have been rescued. According to information from the site foreman, around 30 to 40 people were feared trapped, Jay Pelayo, the Angeles City information officer, told DZBB radio, as quoted by Reuters. According to a site engineer, 19 people had been working at the site, Pelayo said.
This comes a day after a massive fire engulfed a coastal community in Manila.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing with more than 100 police and other government personnel at the spot, AP reported police Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez, as saying.
It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse, Pelayo said, adding that the city engineer is reviewing the construction history.
“The assessment is not yet finished. The unified command system is still working on it, and it is too early to determine the cause of the collapse, which is still being evaluated,” Pelayo said.
“Power lines were hit and were now being secured. We are calling on residents in the area to cooperate with authorities so rescue operations for those trapped are not delayed, and no one else is put at risk,” he said.
Angeles City used to host one of the largest overseas US Air Force bases until it closed in the early 1990s.
