Malaysian Tourist Killed in Philippines Building Collapse; 21 Trapped

A nine-story building under construction collapsed before dawn on Sunday in Angeles City, Pampanga province. At least one Malaysian tourist died, and at least 21 workers were trapped in the rubble.

Fire Superintendent Maria Lea Sajili stated that two workers managed to escape or were rescued after the collapse around 2:30 a.m., while 24 others remained trapped. The building was located in a crowded neighborhood of budget hotels, cafes, spas, and rural houses outside a former U.S. Air Force base.

A Malaysian tourist died, and another guest was injured when debris from the collapsing building hit a lodging house. Relatives of those trapped under concrete slabs, twisted iron bars, and other debris prayed and wept as rescuers gingerly searched the rubble for survivors.

Joamel Angcao, an 18-year-old student, said this was the worst day of her life as she and other siblings waited for news on their parents, who were among those trapped. Her parents had tended to a food and coffee cart beside the building when it tumbled down.

Randy Alapide, a 41-year-old plumber off-duty at the time, rushed back to help rescuers locate trapped workers by drawing a map to pinpoint their location. Two of the trapped workers were located alive but it was taking time to extricate them safely. Ambulance vans, firefighters, and police lined up waiting for the two to be freed.

Nearly 200 police officers helped in the rescue operation, which would proceed overnight until all were accounted for. Angeles City hosted one of the largest U.S. Air Force bases outside the American mainland until it closed in the early 1990s, helping develop the area into an entertainment and commercial hub in Luzon.