Death Toll Climbs as Rescue Teams Continue Search in Pampanga Building Collapse
PAMPANGA – A tragic construction accident in Pampanga has claimed more lives after authorities recovered another victim from the rubble of a collapsed nine-story building.
The death toll from the collapse of a nine-story building under construction in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, has risen to six after rescue teams recovered another body in the early hours of Friday.
According to authorities, responders retrieved the latest victim at around 12:40 a.m. during ongoing search and retrieval operations at the disaster site. The discovery came as rescue personnel continued to comb through the massive pile of debris left by the tragic incident.
Earlier, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, rescuers had already confirmed the recovery of another body from a hazardous section of the collapse area. The retrieval efforts have been particularly challenging due to unstable structures and the risk posed by remaining debris.
The sixth fatality was found less than a day after rescuers recovered the fifth victim. That operation alone reportedly took nearly 14 hours as emergency teams worked carefully through Sector 1 of the collapse zone to locate and retrieve those trapped beneath the rubble.
Rescue and recovery operations have been ongoing since May 24, when the under-construction building suddenly gave way. The collapse sent tons of concrete, steel, and scaffolding crashing down, trapping several workers who were reportedly on-site at the time of the incident.
Authorities and emergency responders have remained at the scene around the clock, conducting painstaking search efforts while ensuring the safety of personnel working in the unstable environment. Heavy equipment and specialized rescue teams have been deployed to assist in clearing debris and locating any remaining victims.
The incident has drawn attention to construction safety practices, with local officials expected to conduct further investigations into the cause of the collapse. Authorities have yet to release complete details regarding the circumstances that led to the structural failure.
Meanwhile, families of the victims continue to await updates as rescue teams persist in their operations. Officials have assured the public that all necessary resources are being utilized to support the ongoing recovery efforts and determine accountability for the tragedy.
The search and retrieval mission remains active as authorities work to ensure that all affected workers are accounted for.
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