ANGELES — The death toll from the collapse of a nine-story building under construction in the Philippines rose to 21 as rescuers continued recovery operations in Angeles City, Pampanga, authorities said. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Central Luzon confirmed the updated casualty figure after additional bodies were retrieved from the rubble.
The building collapsed before dawn on May 24 in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, trapping workers and others inside the structure. Rescue teams have been conducting search, rescue and retrieval operations at the site, using specialized equipment and carefully clearing debris from the unstable remains of the building.
BFP Central Luzon said the latest recoveries brought the number of confirmed fatalities to 21, while operations continued to locate and account for people affected by the collapse. Officials have provided regular updates as the recovery effort progressed, with casualty figures changing as rescuers reached more areas of the collapsed structure.
Authorities previously said most of those believed to have been inside the building were construction workers. At the start of the emergency response, officials reported that dozens of people were trapped or unaccounted for after the structure gave way. Rescuers used search dogs, detection devices and heavy equipment during efforts to locate survivors beneath concrete and steel debris.
The collapse has prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the failure of the structure. Officials said they were examining the building’s construction history, safety compliance and other factors that may have contributed to the incident. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said there were possible occupational safety and health concerns at the construction site, while authorities continued to assess responsibility based on the findings of official investigations.
The structure had been described by officials as a building under construction that was intended for commercial use. Earlier reports said investigators were reviewing whether construction activities matched approved plans and permits, though authorities had not issued a final determination on the cause of the collapse.
Emergency agencies continued recovery and clearing operations as officials worked to complete victim identification and document the impact of the disaster. Authorities said further updates would depend on the progress of the ongoing operations and investigation.
