A tragic construction disaster in Angeles City has claimed at least 27 lives after recovery teams pulled additional victims from the ruins of a collapsed nine-story structure in Barangay Balibago, authorities said Wednesday.
The latest recoveries came as rescue and retrieval personnel from multiple agencies continued clearing massive piles of concrete, steel, and construction debris nearly two weeks after the building gave way before dawn on May 24. Authorities believe more victims could still be buried beneath the wreckage.
Officials overseeing the operation reported that six more bodies were recovered throughout Wednesday, pushing the confirmed death toll to 27. Search efforts have remained active despite challenging conditions, including heavy rains that have complicated access to portions of the collapse site.
The structure, which was under construction and reportedly intended to operate as a hotel, collapsed in one of Angeles City’s busiest commercial districts. The incident triggered a large-scale emergency response involving firefighters, rescuers, engineers, local government personnel, and disaster response teams.
Authorities said 27 people have been rescued since operations began, while recovery teams continue to search areas believed to contain additional victims. Most of those affected were construction workers assigned to the project.
Investigators are also examining reports that some workers may have been living at the construction site with family members. Earlier recoveries included the remains of an infant, a development that raised concerns that non-workers may have also been inside or near the structure when it collapsed.
Because many of the recovered remains were found days after the collapse, authorities have subjected them to disaster victim identification procedures before releasing identities to families. Officials have not yet provided a complete list of all victims.
The disaster has also prompted legal action.
Relatives of some victims have filed complaints before the Angeles City Prosecutor’s Office against individuals connected to the project, including the building owner, contractor, and site engineer. The complaints seek accountability for the deaths resulting from the collapse.
Meanwhile, city officials have called on the project’s owners and contractors to fully cooperate with investigators. Local authorities have launched a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the collapse, including the review of permits, construction practices, and compliance with safety regulations.
Separate findings from labor authorities have also raised concerns about workplace safety. The Department of Labor and Employment previously indicated that the project may have been subject to occupational safety and health violations. Reports showed the construction site had earlier received a work stoppage order due to safety deficiencies.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of construction oversight and building safety standards across the Philippines, particularly as high-rise developments continue to expand in rapidly growing urban centers such as Pampanga.
For nearby residents and businesses, the collapse has caused significant disruption. Portions of the surrounding area have remained restricted while heavy equipment and emergency personnel continue recovery and clearing operations. Authorities have not announced when the site will be fully cleared, noting that only a fraction of the debris field has been removed so far.
As recovery efforts enter another phase, families continue waiting for answers while investigators work to determine what caused one of the deadliest construction-related disasters in Central Luzon in recent years.
