9-story building under construction in the Philippines collapses, leaving 21 people missing

ANGELES, Philippines (AP) — A nine-story building under construction in a city north of Manila, the Philippine capital, collapsed before dawn Sunday morning, leaving at least 21 people missing, authorities said.

Police and other officials said rescue teams “heard voices” under the rubble, while 24 workers managed to reach safety or were rescued.

The building collapsed after a severe storm in Angeles, Pampanga. More than 100 police and other government personnel were scrambling to rescue police Brig, who was believed to be trapped under the rubble. General Jess Mendez said.

Mendez and other officials at the scene said there were no reports of deaths, but some of those who made it out safely were injured.

Most of the 21 unnamed people are believed to be workers at the building, according to Francis Pangilinan, who manages Angeles City’s disaster mitigation office and was at the scene.

Authorities said two people, including a Malaysian tourist, were injured when debris from the collapsed building hit their home.

Rescue teams, including firefighters, police and disaster response teams, used their hands and search dogs in a dangerous struggle to search for trapped survivors, Public Works Minister Vinzon Dizon told reporters near concrete slabs, twisted iron rods and other debris.

“There are some signs of life… Voices can be heard,” Dizon said, adding that rescue teams acted extremely carefully. “It’s a very unstable area and the priority is to get people out.”

Angeles City was home to one of the largest US Air Force bases outside the American mainland until it closed in the early 1990s, helping to transform Angeles and surrounding cities and towns into entertainment and commercial centers in Luzon, the main northern Philippine region.

The former air base, now called the Clark Freeport Zone, is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Metro Manila.