Rescuers in the Philippines are battling scorching heat and dangerous conditions as they race to find survivors more than 24 hours after a multi‑storey building under construction collapsed in Angeles City.
With the structure still unstable, crews have been forced to work almost entirely by hand, carefully removing rocks, concrete and twisted metal to avoid triggering further collapse. Heavy machinery cannot be used for fear it could bury any survivors deeper beneath the rubble. The painstaking effort, about 80 kilometres north of Manila, has stretched into a second day, leaving families waiting nearby increasingly desperate for news.
Among them is 47‑year‑old Lea Casilao, whose husband is believed to be trapped. “My youngest child keeps asking, but I do not have answers,” she said through tears. “If only the rescuers could call out his name, he might still respond… so I’d have something to hold on to.”
Search teams, supported by K9 units, continued combing the wreckage after overnight thermal scans detected signs of life including heartbeats and breathing beneath the collapsed structure. Rescuers have also inserted yellow flexible tubes to channel air into pockets where survivors may be trapped.
Nearby, Noby Batar pleaded for any sign of her husband Emmanuel. “Manny, if you’re not among the dead, please just show yourself,” she said, her daughter Stephanie crying beside her. “Give us a sign, we love you very much.”
Officials confirmed the death toll has now risen to four, with 17 people still missing. One of the earlier victims was found alive but later died, while another suffered cardiac arrest while still trapped. Among the dead is a 65‑year‑old Malaysian national recovered from a neighbouring hotel that was also damaged in the collapse.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into what caused the disaster. Planning records show the building was approved as a nine‑storey condo‑hotel, but a swimming pool was being constructed on an additional, unapproved tenth floor. Labour officials revealed that construction had been halted in September 2025 over multiple safety violations, but the order was lifted a month later after the company claimed compliance.
As the search continues, families cling to hope and rescuers push on, knowing every hour counts.
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