Rescuers search for 20 after building collapse in Philippines

Rescuers in the Philippines are searching for at least 20 people feared trapped after a multi-story building under construction collapsed in Angeles City, north of the capital Manila. Officials said five people were confirmed trapped, including two in contact with rescuers, and 18 more were feared under the rubble.

Maria Leah Sajili, information officer at the regional Bureau of Fire Protection, told a press briefing: "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."

At the site, rescuers were seen clambering over a mound of concrete slabs and mangled steel, covered in green netting, searching for survivors. The number of rescued, including those in the vicinity, remained at 24, with no deaths reported, Sajili said, according to The Straits Times.

Among the rescued was a 51-year-old Malaysian national who was staying in a nearby budget hotel, which was damaged when the concrete structure collapsed, Jay Pelayo, the Angeles city information officer, told Reuters in a phone interview. He had earlier told DZBB radio that 30 to 40 people were feared trapped, based on information from a site foreman who was among those who escaped.

Officials said the cause of the collapse is under investigation, but records showed the building was intended as a nine-story condo-hotel under the approved permit, but a 10th floor for a pool was being constructed. According to Mehr News, the incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in the construction industry in the Philippines.