Building collapse in Philippines leaves 3 dead, 17 missing

Rescuers continued search and rescue after a multistorey building under construction collapsed in Angeles, north of Manila. Thermal scans showed signs of breathing and heartbeats beneath the debris. Crews pulled two people from the rubble, bringing the death toll to three. One retrieved victim had a pulse but later died, while another suffered cardiac arrest while still trapped. Officials said an investigation is underway into the collapse cause. Another body was being sought, and it would be added to the official toll only after recovery. Seventeen people were reported missing, mostly construction workers, and up to 70 were employed at the site, though many had gone home for the weekend. Rescue efforts were described as difficult because movements can shift debris and crush trapped people or bury responders.

"Rescuers search for survivors after thermal scans show signs of breathing and heartbeats beneath debris. Rescuers have pulled two people from the rubble of a collapsed building under construction in the Philippines, bringing the death toll to three, officials have said, as crews continue search and rescue operations at the site."

"One of the two victims had a pulse when he was retrieved, but later died, while another suffered cardiac arrest while still trapped, Maria Leah Sajili, an information officer at Bureau of Fire Protection, said in a phone interview with the Reuters news agency on Monday."

"Sajili said there could be more victims trapped, after thermal scans detected signs of breathing and heartbeats beneath the rubble. The number of missing stood at 17, most of them construction workers listed as being on duty at the site, Sajili said."

"Sajili, the fire bureau spokeswoman, said that rescue in [a] building collapse is very challenging, since any sudden shift triggered by the movements of our rescuers can cause areas to move and people under can get crushed. Sudden movements may also bury our responders, she said, explaining why this phase of the operation had to be done mostl"

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