AUTHORITIES have recovered a body from the second floor of a nearby hotel that was heavily affected by the collapse of a nine‑story building under construction in Balibago, Angeles City.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Officer‑in‑Charge Fire Chief Superintendent Rico Kwan Tiu confirmed that the remains were retrieved by search and rescue teams while clearing structures damaged during the incident. This marks the first fatality officially recovered from the site since the accident occurred early Sunday morning.
The victim was identified as a Malaysian national with a disability, who was inside the hotel premises when the adjacent building crumbled and caused debris to spill over onto nearby properties. Rescue personnel had to navigate through unstable materials and compromised sections of the hotel to safely retrieve the body, taking extra precautions to avoid further harm or structural collapse during the operation. Officials have not yet disclosed the victim’s personal details pending formal notification of their family and proper documentation.
Recovery and search efforts continue as teams remain deployed to locate more than 20 individuals still believed to be trapped under the rubble. Coordination between the BFP, DPWH, local government units, and other emergency agencies remains tight as they work to clear debris methodically. Authorities have also reminded the public to stay clear of the area to give rescue teams full access and to prevent injuries from falling materials or sudden structural shifts. Investigations into the cause of the collapse are set to begin once all operations are completed and the site is declared safe.
