23 people feared trapped as nine-storey building collapses in Philippines | World | News

Officials said that more than 20 people are feared to be trapped under the rubble after a multi-storey building under construction in the Philippines, where rescue efforts are continuing, collapsed on Sunday. Authorities said five people were trapped, two of whom were in contact with rescuers, and 18 more people were feared trapped under the rubble.

Regional Fire Protection Bureau information officer Maria Leah Sajili said at a press conference: “We have five confirmed trapped victims and 18 workers from the list of construction workers on duty today, but there is no feedback from their families yet. This brings the estimated number of trapped victims to 23 as of today.”

At the site of the collapsed multi-storey building under construction in the city of Angeles, north of the capital Manila, rescuers were seen looking for survivors by climbing a mound of concrete slabs and crushed steel covered with green nets.

Public Works Minister Vinzon Dizon told reporters “some signs of life” were found near piles of concrete slabs, twisted iron rods and other debris.

Explaining rescuers were moving with caution, he added: “There are voices that are being heard. It’s a very very unstable site and the priority is to get the people out.”

Ms Sajili said the number of rescues remained at 24 and no deaths were reported.

Among those rescued was a 51-year-old Malaysian national who was staying at a nearby budget hotel and was damaged when the concrete structure collapsed, Angeles City information officer Jay Pelayo told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Ambulances were on standby and fire trucks were deployed to assist in rescue efforts, Mr. Pelayo said, adding that moving the concrete debris was a challenging task for rescuers.

Officials said the cause of the collapse was being investigated.

Angeles City was home to one of the largest U.S. Air Force bases outside mainland America until it closed in the early 1990s.