In the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, a violent thunderstorm triggered the collapse of a nine-story building under construction in Angeles City, Pampanga — a bustling commercial hub just 80 kilometers north of the Philippine capital, Manila. Philippine law enforcement officials confirmed that while 22 construction workers successfully evacuated the unstable structure before it crumbled, dozens more remain unaccounted for, with fears that many are trapped beneath piles of concrete and steel rubble.
More than 100 rescue personnel, including police officers and other government emergency responders, have been deployed to the disaster site to launch a urgent search-and-rescue operation, according to police Brigadier General Jess Mendez, who is overseeing the response on the ground. Mendez noted that no fatalities have been confirmed in the incident as of initial updates, but several of the 22 evacuated workers have been treated for injuries sustained during their escape.
Authorities have not yet been able to confirm an exact number of trapped workers. However, Angeles City Information Office chief Jay Peladio shared that based on accounts from an on-site construction foreman who escaped the collapse, at least 30 workers may still be buried in the rubble.
Located in northern Luzon, Angeles City holds unique historical context: it was once home to one of the largest United States Air Force bases outside the U.S. mainland before the facility closed in the early 1990s. The base’s departure reshaped the region’s economy, transforming Angeles City and surrounding communities into major entertainment and commercial centers for northern Luzon. Today, the former base grounds operate as the Clark Freeport Zone, a key economic development area for the Philippines.