Search and rescue operations are ongoing at the collapsed structure in Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga, as responders work against the clock to recover victims trapped beneath the debris.

Rescuers are intensifying their use of thermal scanning and proper sectoring across the entire operation to organize the deployment of responders and quickly identify critical areas. 

Other rescue management units remain on standby to provide immediate first aid, while ambulances have been deployed to rush recovered victims to nearby hospitals.

Based on initial investigation, most of the victims trapped under the rubble were construction workers who had been sleeping in barracks located beneath the building under construction. Their wives and children were also with them at the time of the collapse.

The tragedy occurred at around 2 AM on Sunday, May 24. Last night, several bodies were recovered from the collapsed building, and rescuers attempted to revive them. A Malaysian national was also among those recovered yesterday.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Search and Rescue Team (MMDA SAR) joined the search for victims trapped under the nine-story hotel under construction in Pampanga. 

MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Nicolas Torre III was among those who went to the site, using a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) to call the attention of possible survivors beneath the rubble.

The rescue team also used advanced equipment such as a vibraphone and life locator to determine the exact location of victims under the debris. K-9 units were also dispatched to speed up rescue operations and help ensure the safety of those trapped.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will assign a technical team to assist in the investigation of the collapse. 

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon was among those who immediately went to the site yesterday to personally assess the situation and order the deployment of agency equipment. The DPWH sent boom trucks and a Tadano crane to support search and rescue operations at the site.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Region 3 (DSWD FO3) also attended to the families affected by the collapse on May 24. 

Some families are temporarily staying at a shelter while their other needs are being addressed, and have been given family food packs and other relief items. 

The DSWD has also begun distributing an initial cash assistance of P10,000 to help affected families cover expenses related to the incident.