Building collapse in Philippines kills 1, traps 21 construction workers

A nine-story building under construction collapsed before dawn Sunday in the Philippines, killing at least one Malaysian tourist and trapping at least 21 workers in the rubble, The Associated Press reported.

The collapse in Angeles City, about 80 kilometers north of Manila, triggered a massive rescue operation involving some 700 workers and nearly 200 police officers as families of the missing held vigil at the site.

The structure crumbled around 2:30 a.m. in a neighborhood crowded with budget hotels, cafes and spas near the former U.S. Air Force base known as the Clark Freeport Zone, The Associated Press reported. Workers had been sleeping on the ground floor when the building gave way, burying them under concrete slabs, twisted iron bars and aluminum scaffolding. At least 24 workers managed to escape or were rescued.

Heavy rains and fierce winds preceded the collapse. A lodging house adjacent to the construction site was partly struck by debris, injuring another guest. Rescue teams located two workers alive in the rubble but said they were difficult to extricate.

Approximately 700 rescuers, including nearly 200 police officers, worked through the debris field over the course of Sunday searching for survivors.

John Carlo Villarente, a plumber who had relatives among those missing, described the moment he learned what had happened. "I was so shocked, there were people inside, including my nephew," Villarente told The Associated Press. "We ran and tried to help but we were not allowed to ger near because people said it was very dangerous."

Randy Alapide, a 41-year-old plumber, said the toll was deeply personal. "I know three of the missing. They are breadwinners and they have families waiting for them," Alapide said. Joamel Angcao, an 18-year-old student near the site, told The Associated Press: "This is the worst day of our lives."

Regional police director Brigadier General Jess Mendez said rescue teams would press on "until all are accounted for," according to The Associated Press.