Pampanga building collapse search and rescue operations terminated

The search and rescue operations at the building that collapsed in Angeles City, Pampanga was terminated on Monday evening by the Unified Command System (UCS), according to the Angeles City Information Office.

The decision to terminate operations at 8:27 p.m. was reached "following the final assessment conducted using a Life Locator by the team from the Pasig City Local Government Unit, which consistently indicated no signs of life within the affected area."

"Based on these findings, the Incident Command System (ICS) had made the decision to cease the rescue efforts," the information office posted.

On Tuesday, the operations will transition to Retrieval and Clearing Operations.

During the briefing held on Monday evening, an initial Incident Action Plan (IAP) for the next phase of operations was presented and discussed.

"Despite the shift in operational focus, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II directed all retrieval teams to continue exercising the utmost respect, dignity, and proper handling of the victims’ remains throughout the recovery process," the information office also said.

Around 30 to 40 individuals have been trapped after a nine-story building being constructed collapsed in Angeles City, Pampanga before dawn on Sunday, the Angeles City Information Office said, citing information from the foreman.

Angeles City Information Office head Jay Pelayo said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB the building being constructed along Teodoro Street in Barangay Balibago collapsed around 3 a.m.

Eight people who were in the vicinity were immediately rescued. They had minor abrasions and injuries.

The building's foreman and 10 others were able to get out of the rubble and are being attended to by the local government unit. They are in stable condition, Pelayo said.

The number of fatalities in the collapse of a building under construction in Angeles City, Pampanga has increased to four as another body was retrieved Monday morning, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Central Luzon said. — BAP, GMA News