AT least 26 people have been rescued after a building under construction collapsed in Angeles City in the Philippine province of Pampanga early Sunday morning, triggering a major emergency response operation.
Authorities said the incident occurred at about 3am along Teodoro Street in Balibago, where a proposed nine-storey concrete structure suddenly gave way while construction works were ongoing.
The collapse caused panic in the surrounding area and also struck a nearby apartelle, prompting immediate rescue efforts by emergency responders.
According to the Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO), 24 individuals were pulled alive from the collapsed structure itself.
“Twenty-four individuals have been successfully rescued from the collapsed structure. Two persons were also rescued from an apartelle that was hit by the collapse of a building under construction,” the Angeles City Information Office said in a statement citing the ACDRRMO report.
Search and rescue operations continued throughout the day amid fears that additional victims could still be trapped beneath the debris.
Emergency response efforts were being coordinated by the Bureau of Fire Protection and disaster management personnel, while the Philippine National Police secured the surrounding area to facilitate rescue work and prevent public access.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the collapse, and investigations into the structural failure remain ongoing.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over construction safety standards and regulatory oversight in rapidly developing urban areas across the Philippines. - May 24, 2026
