UMVA has learned that a devastating building collapse in the Philippines has left more than 20 people trapped under the rubble, with rescue efforts underway to save those buried beneath the debris.
The building, which was under construction, came crashing down on Sunday, and officials have confirmed that five people are trapped, with two of them managing to establish contact with rescuers, while 18 more are feared to be buried under the wreckage.
Rescuers are racing against time to locate survivors, with 24 people already pulled to safety, including a 51-year-old Malaysian national who was staying in a nearby hotel that was damaged in the collapse, and miraculously, no deaths have been reported so far.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the cause of the collapse is still under investigation, but it has been revealed that the building was intended to be a nine-storey condo-hotel, with a 10th floor for a pool being constructed, which may have contributed to the disaster.
Rescue efforts are being hindered by the massive amount of concrete debris, and ambulances are on standby, with fire trucks and cranes deployed to assist in the rescue, as the Department of Public Works and Highways has sent a technical team to help determine the cause of the collapse.
As the search for survivors continues, the situation remains dire, with families of the missing workers anxiously waiting for news, and officials working tirelessly to uncover the truth behind the tragic collapse, with UMVA continuing to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
