More than 20 people are feared trapped beneath the rubble of a building under construction that collapsed on Sunday in the Philippines, as emergency crews continue rescue operations.
Officials said five people have been confirmed trapped, including two who are reportedly in contact with rescuers, while 18 others are still unaccounted for.
“We have five confirmed trapped victims, and we have a figure of 18 workers from the list of construction workers on duty today, but no feedback yet from their families. This brings the estimated number of trapped victims to 23 as of today,” Maria Leah Sajili, Information Officer at the regional Bureau of Fire Protection, told a press briefing.
The multi-storey building, located in the city of Angeles north of the capital Manila, collapsed while still under construction.
Rescue teams were seen climbing over piles of broken concrete slabs and twisted steel beams covered with green safety netting as they searched for survivors trapped beneath the debris.
Authorities said 24 people, including individuals who were near the site when the structure collapsed, have so far been rescued. No deaths had been officially recorded at the time of reporting.
Among those rescued was a 51-year-old Malaysian national who had been staying at a nearby budget hotel that was damaged during the collapse, according to Angeles City Information Officer Jay Pelayo.
Pelayo earlier told local media that between 30 and 40 people were initially feared trapped, based on information provided by a site foreman who managed to escape.
Officials said investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collapse. Preliminary records indicate the project had approval for a nine-storey condo-hotel, but construction work on a 10th-floor swimming pool was reportedly ongoing at the time of the incident.
Ambulances and fire trucks remain stationed at the scene to support the rescue efforts, while emergency responders continue to battle challenges caused by the massive concrete debris.