May 25, 2026
ANGELES – A Malaysian national died while more than 20 workers were feared trapped beneath the rubble after a nine-story building still under construction collapsed in Barangay Balibago here before dawn on Sunday.
Fire Chief Superintendent Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu, officer in charge of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), confirmed the fatality, saying the man was a PWD (person with disability) staying at a nearby apartelle (apartment-style hotel).
Kwan Tiu said emergency crew carried out delicate manual search and rescue operations amid unstable debris along Teodoro Street.
He added that rescuers maintained contact with several individuals trapped under the collapsed mixed-use structure.
“We were able to give water. We can talk to them,” Kwan Tiu told reporters, referring to victims trapped beneath the debris.
As of Sunday afternoon, at least 26 people had been rescued—24 from the collapsed building and two others from a nearby apartelle struck by falling debris, according to authorities and the Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO).
‘Manual’ rescue
More than 20 others, mostly construction workers believed to have been resting inside the site when it gave way, may still be trapped under layers of concrete, scaffolding, and steel, the ACDRRMO said in a report.
It added that 10 of those rescued were taken to a nearby hospital and treated for injuries, but did not provide further details.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, who inspected the site on the directive of President Marcos, said rescue operations would proceed cautiously due to unstable conditions.
“Our priority is to get the trapped victims out. The rescue operation will be done manually,” Dizon told reporters.
He said heavy equipment remained on standby but could not yet be used.
“The most challenging part is that the site remains unstable because the structure was still under construction,” Dizon said.
“Many scaffolds and steel bars are holding other debris, so we really need to conduct manual rescue operations,” he added.
Screams for help
City information officer Jay Pelayo told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the building’s walls and scaffolding had buckled.
“There are big chunks of concrete, and we need equipment to lift them up. That is what’s challenging for the rescue right now,” Pelayo said.
Search teams divided the area into four zones as responders crawled through narrow gaps amid collapsed concrete and twisted steel.
Personnel from the BFP, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Coast Guard joined the operation, with K9 units deployed to detect signs of life.
At one point, responders paused movement after detecting faint sounds believed to be coming from trapped victims.
The collapse occurred between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., according to the ACDRRMO.
Residents reported being awakened by a loud crash, followed by screams for help as dust engulfed nearby areas.
The Philippine Red Cross deployed ambulance and welfare teams to the site, providing medical aid and psychosocial support to rescued workers and affected families.
‘Long operation’
Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II also visited the area and called on the building owner to coordinate with authorities to account for all workers on site.
He identified a certain “Mr. Lim” as the alleged owner, although records obtained by the Inquirer showed the building permit was issued to Golden Years Construction and Steelworks, based in Malabon.
Authorities activated the Unified Command System to coordinate the multiagency response.
Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the collapse, although Dizon said reports of heavy rains a day earlier are being looked into.
“This will be a long operation,” Kwan Tiu said. “Hopefully, we can rescue more.”—WITH A REPORT FROM AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE