More than 20 people are trapped under rubble after a building construction collapsed in the Philippines. The incident happened on Sunday. Rescue efforts are continuing on Monday. Officials confirmed that five people were trapped. Two of these were in contact with rescuers. Eighteen other workers are feared to be under the debris. This brings the total feared trapped to 23 people. Maria Leah Sajili, an information officer for the regional Bureau of Fire Protection, gave these figures. She spoke at a press briefing. The collapse occurred at a building under construction. It is a multi-storey building. The location is the city of Angeles. This is north of the capital, Manila. Rescuers are seen working at the site. They climb over concrete slabs and steel. The area is covered in green netting. They are searching for survivors. So far, 24 people have been rescued. No deaths have been reported. Among the rescued is a Malaysian national. He is 51 years old. He was staying in a nearby hotel. The hotel was damaged. Jay Pelayo, the Angeles city information officer, said this. He spoke to Reuters on the phone. Earlier, he estimated 30 to 40 people were feared trapped. This was based on information from a site foreman. The foreman escaped the collapse. The cause of the collapse is under investigation. Records show the building was planned as a nine-storey condo-hotel. However, a 10th floor for a pool was being built. Ambulances and fire trucks are at the scene. They are assisting rescue operations. Moving the concrete debris is difficult for rescuers. This is according to Mr. Pelayo.
This incident highlights concerns about construction safety. Ghana faces similar challenges with building collapses. For example, the Konongo mining disaster saw people trapped. Data from Ghana shows that many Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, or SMEs, fail. About 74% of these businesses collapse within five years. Experts call for better business organization. Building collapses can be linked to poor oversight. This includes weak enforcement of building permits. Officials in Ghana have demanded strict occupancy permit enforcement. This is to prevent more building collapses. The Ghana Statistical Service may track construction-related incidents. Such data helps understand safety risks. Economic development requires safe infrastructure. Unsafe buildings can cause loss of life and property. They also create fear in communities. Ghana's construction sector is vital. It employs many workers. Ensuring safety is crucial for this sector. Proper regulation is key. This prevents tragedies.
Maria Leah Sajili of the Bureau of Fire Protection provided details. She is an information officer. Jay Pelayo, the Angeles city information officer, also spoke. He informed Reuters. The investigation into the cause is underway. Officials are expected to release findings. These will likely detail any regulatory failures. Further construction projects might face closer scrutiny. This could add costs and time. Builders may need to prove stronger safety measures. This incident affects the construction industry. It also impacts public trust in building safety.
What happens next is crucial. The focus remains on rescue. After that, a thorough investigation is expected. The findings could lead to new rules. These rules would affect construction practices. Ghanaian regulators will monitor the outcome. They will consider lessons learned for local projects. Any regulatory changes could impact construction costs. This would also affect the timeline for new buildings. The safety of workers and the public is paramount.