'Moving entities' detected in Angeles building collapse during search and rescue operations

There were at least four moving entities detected underneath the rubble of the collapsed building in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City in Pampanga on Friday, according to the Angeles City Information Office.

"The Unified Command Management Option conducting the ongoing search and rescue operations has reported to the Incident Command Post (ICP) that as of 2:50 PM, rescue radar equipment detected four (4) moving entities beneath the rubble at ground zero," the information office said.

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo 'Jon' Lazatin then instructed responders to "immediately intensify rescue operations" to locate the possible survivors in the collapsed building.

It was clarified, however, that the presence of these moving identities is not confirmation that there are survivors underneath the rubble, five days after the nine-storey building collapsed.

"According to previous briefings by the Unified Command, the detected entities do not automatically confirm the presence of human survivors," the information office posted.

"Authorities explained that the rescue radar is capable of detecting any form of movement or life signs, including those from animals such as rodents, cats, or dogs," it added.

However, Lazatin is still hopeful that responders may still find survivors as they continue to scour through the debris at the site.

The death toll in the collapse of a building under construction in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga has climbed to six, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 3 said Friday.

In an update, BFP Region 3 said rescuers at 12:40 a.m. retrieved another body from the rubble amid the search, rescue, and retrieval operations. — BAP, GMA News