At least four dead and 17 missing after unfinished building collapses in the Philippines

At least four people have died after an unfinished building collapsed in the Philippines, authorities in the country have said.

Rescuers have been searching through the rubble of the nine-floor construction for another 17 people, mostly workers, who are missing after Sunday's disaster.

Crews pulled three people out of the rubble on Monday, but two of the men were already dead.

Emergency personnel at the scene tried unsuccessfully to revive the third person recovered before driving him away in an ambulance.

One of the people killed was a 65-year-old Malaysian national, whose body had been recovered from a neighbouring hotel affected by the collapse.

Maria Leah Sajili, from the regional Bureau of Fire Protection, ⁠told reporters on Sunday that, of the ​people reported missing, five were confirmed ​trapped.

Two of the five were in contact with rescuers, but ​the status of the others was not immediately clear.

Rescue efforts, using trained rescue dogs, ‌heartbeat detection devices and heavy equipment to sift through the debris, have continued, but operations will become more challenging after dark, Ms Sajili said.

Officials said ​an investigation had been launched into what caused the collapse in the city of Angeles, north of ​the capital, Manila on Luzon, the nation's largest and most populous island.

Rescuers have had to climb over a mound of concrete slabs and mangled steel, covered in green ‌netting, in their search for survivors.

As of Sunday, 24 people had been pulled out of the site, a figure that includes others who were nearby.

Those rescued included a 51-year-old Malaysian national who was staying in a nearby budget hotel.

It was damaged when the concrete structure came down, Jay Pelayo, the Angeles city information officer, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Mr Pelayo had earlier told DZBB radio that he believed 30 to 40 people were feared trapped, after he talked to a site foreman who escaped.

Read more:
Iran war latest - Strait of Hormuz update
Four killed in airstrikes on Kyiv
Dozens die in suicide bomb blast

The families of those trapped have voiced frustration at the slow rescue efforts, including 47-year old Lea Casilao, whose husband, a construction worker, is believed to be beneath the rubble.

"If only the rescuers could call out ​his name, he might still respond, so I'd have something to hold on to, some hope,"
she said, ⁠wiping away tears.

Noby Batar also pleaded for news of her husband, Emmanuel, who is believed to be buried beneath the pile of
concrete and steel.

"Manny, if you're not among the dead, please just show yourself. We're here, and we don't ‌know whether you're alive or not," she said.

"This is so difficult for us because we don't know what to do."

According to records, a 10th floor was being built to put a pool on top of the approved condo-hotel.

Ambulances were on standby, and fire engines had been sent to help in the rescue effort, Mr Pelayo said, adding that moving the concrete debris was hampering rescuers.

(c) Sky News 2026: At least four dead and 17 missing after unfinished building collapses in the Philippines