Philippines Ends Rescue Efforts After Building Collapse

Rescue Efforts Underway After Building Collapse in Angeles City

A two-day rescue operation for 16 people missing after a nine-storey building under construction collapsed has concluded in Angeles City, north of Manila. The focus shifted to recovering the remains of the victims as four bodies were pulled from the debris on Sunday.

According to officials, at least four people lost their lives in the incident, including a Malaysian man and two trapped construction workers. Maria Leah Sajili, information officer at the regional Bureau of Fire Protection, acknowledged the difficulties faced by those affected, stating that rescue efforts did everything possible to save lives.

Seventeen people were initially listed as missing, but one of them contacted officials on Monday to confirm he was not in the area at the time. Authorities determined there were no signs of life beneath the rubble after using life locator equipment, leading to the call-off of search and rescue operations late on Monday.

The construction site employed up to 70 people, with most having gone home for the weekend. Families of construction workers still believed buried under the rubble have been experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions over the past two days. Rescuers detected signs of life from two people on Sunday but later found one dead and the other died shortly after being freed.

On Monday afternoon, rescuers saw signs of life using thermal sensors in the same area, but authorities called off search and rescue operations, theorizing that heartbeats detected may have come from animals in the rubble. Lea Casilao, whose husband remains missing, expressed her concern, stating she had planned to meet him at the construction site on Sunday afternoon.

The recovery efforts are ongoing, with officials working to locate and recover the remaining victims’ remains.

Source: Al Jazeera