A nine-storey building under construction collapsed at around 3:00 AM local time on May 24, 2026, in Angeles City, about 80 to 90 km north of Manila, Philippines [1, 2, 3]. The structure was planned as a condo-hotel with a tenth floor and swimming pool under construction [4, 5].
At least four people died, including two construction workers trapped alive but later succumbing to injuries and a Malaysian guest aged 51 to 65 who was staying at a nearby hotel damaged by the collapse [4, 6, 7, 8, 5]. Twenty-four people were rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and the adjacent hotel, all in stable condition [1, 2, 9, 10, 5].
At least 17 construction workers remain missing, mostly those listed as on duty and believed to have been sleeping on site at the time [4, 6, 7, 8, 5]. Initial reports varied on the number of people trapped, with estimates ranging from 19 to 40 depending on duty rosters and site foreman lists [2, 9, 11, 12, 5]. Angeles City information officer Jay Pelayo described the collapsed site as "a pile of concrete debris and twisted metal," saying, "There are big chunks of concrete, and we need equipment to lift them up. That is what's challenging for the rescue right now" [1].
Rescue teams faced difficulties in lifting heavy concrete slabs without adequate equipment [1, 2, 9, 11, 3, 5]. The rescue operation officially ended late on May 25 after no further signs of life were detected; retrieval of remains began afterward [7, 8]. Maria Leah Sajili of the Regional Bureau of Fire Protection said, "The rescue operation was formally declared over on the night of May 25 and the search was suspended overnight before 'retrieval operations' begin on May 26" [7].
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation. Authorities including the city engineer are reviewing the building's construction history and permit compliance [1, 11, 4, 7, 5]. The labour department had briefly shut the site in September 2024 amid occupational safety violations. Geraldine Panlilio, a regional labour official, said inspectors found workers lacking proper safety gear such as hard hats, boots, belts, and lifelines, working under poor lighting and without safety signage [7].
Families of missing workers expressed grief and frustration over delays and uncertainty in the rescue. Lea Casilao, wife of a missing worker, said, "My youngest child keeps asking, but I do not have answers... It is breaking my heart to wait for something uncertain" [4].
Officials continue recovering remains and investigating the collapse, with retrieval efforts ongoing as of May 26, 2026 [7, 8].
