Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II has immediately activated the local government’s Unified Command System to ensure proper coordination following the collapse of a 9-story building in the city.
Authorities said that as of 2 p.m., Sunday, May 24, 23 individuals have reportedly remained trapped in a building that was being constructed in Balibago, Angeles City.
The structure reportedly collapsed at around 3 a.m. on the same day.
“Total of twenty-three estimated trapped victims as of today,” Fire Superintendent Maria Leah Sejili, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 3 Public Information Officer, told reporters.
So far, there have been no reported casualties, she said.
The fire officer said 24 people “escaped” from the incident. Ten of them were brought to San Rafael Lazatin Memorial Hospital.
Among those reported trapped, Angeles City Information Officer Jay Pelayo said two were sighted and were under the debris.
“So patuloy po ‘yung ating efforts on bringing them to safety na marescue po. So, patuloy po tayong magdasal para sa kanila,” she said.
Sejili said authorities have been conducting an investigation into the cause of the incident.
However, she noted that while the building was supposed to be a 9-story structure, they had received reports that the top level was being converted into a swimming pool area.
“As to the report for the permission or the update, we will check doon po sa ating site engineers kung nagkaroon na po sila ng application for the change of their permits. As of now po, according to the site engineer, nagbago daw po sila. As to how kung nakarating po ba yun sa LGU (local government unit), wala pa po kaming alam. From this moment we will check on it po for the updates,” she explained.