Deaths in Pampanga building collapse rise to 30 - BFP Central Luzon

Responders have recovered the body of another victim from the collapsed building in Angeles City, Pampanga at past midnight Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 30.

In a Facebook post, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Central Luzon said the remains were extricated from the collapse site in Barangay Balibago at 12:18 a.m. of Tuesday, June 9.

Hours before at 9:37 p.m. of Monday, June 8, authorities recovered the remains of the 29th victim from the rubble.

Before this, the last extraction of a victim was on Saturday, June 6 at 9:56 p.m. during ongoing search, rescue, and retrieval operations.

Previously, authorities said around 30% of the debris at the collapse site have been already cleared and that teams and heavy equipment are still deployed amid intermittent rains.

The nine-story building under construction collapsed before dawn on May 24.

Earlier, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said there were possible violations of occupational safety and health standards at the construction site.

The project was the subject of a previous work stoppage order issued by DOLE Region 3 due to safety deficiencies.

Lawyers for the building owner and contractor appeared at a press conference a week after the incident. The owner has expressed willingness to assist the victims and also sought an independent investigation into the collapse. — JMA, GMA News