Risk of another collapse hampers Angeles ops
ANGELES CITY—Inside the unstable debris field of the collapsed nine-story building at Barangay Balibago here, the recovery of the fifth fatality on Thursday highlighted the difficult and high-risk conditions responders continue to face at ground zero of the tragedy.
The body was retrieved at 7:57 a.m. after more than 11 hours of careful extrication, following its discovery at 6:18 p.m. on Wednesday.
From the moment the body was located beneath layers of collapsed concrete and steel, responders were forced to work within tight, unstable spaces where even minor shifts in debris could trigger further collapse.
Fire Supt. Maria Leah Sajili, regional public information officer of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Central Luzon, said the body was found in “Sector 1” of the collapse site through the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard K9 units.
“He was located under a huge beam that was not easy to move or drill through because it might cause the whole structure to cave in if not careful that’s why it took longer to operate,” Sajili told the Inquirer.
She added that extraction methods—whether manual or using heavy equipment—depend entirely on the stability of the structure and the depth at which a victim is located.
Among the biggest hazards on site, she said, is the risk of secondary collapse while cutting, lifting or shifting heavy debris in weakened sections of the structure.
The operation entered its fifth day since the building collapsed early Sunday, with responders working in shifts due to prolonged exposure to dangerous conditions and physical exhaustion.
Sajili said team members, despite experiencing fatigue, remained focused on continuing operations inside the rubble field, driven by the need to account for all those believed to be trapped.
“Physical fatigue is present, but still the idea of saving one more life keeps us from the boundary of exhaustion and danger,” she said.
In a message sent to Inquirer through the Unified Command Management, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin II expressed condolences to affected families, assuring them of government assistance.
The city government said psychosocial support and counseling services are being provided, alongside medical assistance, food aid, financial support, transportation arrangements, and temporary shelter for displaced families.
“We share in your sorrow and assure victims that they are not alone during this difficult period,” Lazatin said, adding that all response teams remain fully committed on the ground.
Owner still no-show
Lazatin earlier urged the owner and contractor to show up and cooperate with the authorities to assist in the search, rescue and retrieval operations.
Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing, with authorities examining possible structural issues and compliance with safety and construction regulations as retrieval operations continue.
On Thursday, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said it would provide assistance to the victims of the tragedy that has so far resulted in five deaths, with 16 still missing.
In a statement, the Dole said acting Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino had ordered the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) to provide P15,000 as an immediate cash benefit to qualified beneficiaries of workers who died from the building collapse.
The ECC would also facilitate the application of a funeral benefit amounting to P30,000 through the Social Security System (SSS), which will be given on top of regular SSS benefits. Injured workers can get P10,000 in cash assistance as well as a disability benefit that will be determined by the SSS. —WITH A REPORT FROM GILLIAN VILLANUEVA
