Building Collapse Near Philippine Capital Leaves Workers Trapped Under Rubble

Rescue teams in the Philippines are racing to locate survivors after a nine-storey building under construction collapsed early Sunday morning in Angeles City, north-west of the capital, Manila. Authorities said around 20 people were feared trapped beneath the rubble after the structure suddenly gave way at about 3:00 a.m. local time.

Emergency responders have so far rescued at least 24 people from the site, while two additional individuals were pulled from a nearby hotel damaged by falling debris. No fatalities had officially been confirmed as of Sunday afternoon, though officials warned the situation remained critical.

The building, which was still under construction at the time of the collapse, crumbled into surrounding streets in a matter of seconds, leaving behind twisted scaffolding, shattered concrete and mangled steel beams. Images from the scene showed rescue workers navigating unstable debris covered by green construction safety netting as heavy equipment was brought in to support search operations.

City information officer Jay Pelayo said rescue efforts were being complicated by large slabs of collapsed concrete and unstable structural materials. “There are big chunks of concrete, and we need equipment to lift them up,” Pelayo told journalists. “That is what’s challenging for the rescue right now.”

Officials said at least five people had been confirmed trapped beneath the wreckage, with two reportedly able to establish contact with rescue teams.

Witnesses described scenes of panic moments before the collapse.

One resident told local newspaper Daily Tribune that she heard a loud rumbling noise before losing consciousness briefly during the incident. She later woke to find debris scattered across nearby streets.

Angeles City, located about 90 kilometres north-west of Manila on Luzon Island, is one of the Philippines’ rapidly expanding urban centres, where large-scale construction projects have accelerated in recent years. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse, amid renewed scrutiny over building standards, project supervision and construction safety practices in the country.

Construction accidents remain a recurring concern in the Philippines, where rapid urban development has often been linked to regulatory lapses, design failures and weak enforcement of safety standards.

The incident comes months after a landfill collapse in Cebu killed 11 waste workers earlier this year, further intensifying debate over public safety oversight and infrastructure management in the country.