PUTRAJAYA, May 25 — The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that two Malaysians were affected by a building collapse incident in Angeles City, north of the Philippine capital Manila, yesterday.
The ministry said one victim had been confirmed safe, while the Malaysian Embassy in Manila was actively obtaining verified information to determine the status of another Malaysian.
“The Malaysian Embassy remains in close contact with local authorities to monitor the condition of the Malaysian confirmed safe, as well as to verify the status and location of another Malaysian citizen.
“At the same time, all efforts are being undertaken to contact and trace the next of kin of both individuals involved,” it said in a statement yesterday.
The ministry added that rescue operations were ongoing to locate individuals feared trapped beneath the rubble.
Local media reports yesterday stated that a Malaysian citizen trapped at a hotel apartment near the collapsed building in Angeles City, Pampanga, had died. However, Malaysian authorities have yet to officially confirm the report.
According to Xinhua, Acting Philippine Fire Chief Rico Kwan Tiu said the Malaysian victim had managed to communicate with rescuers by phone while trapped beneath a hotel wall shortly after the incident occurred at about 3 am local time.
“Unfortunately, when we managed to retrieve him earlier, he was no longer alive.
“We will continue rescue operations until all trapped victims are found. There are still survivors. I am certain of it,” he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, regional spokesperson for the Philippine Bureau of Fire Protection Maria Leah Sajili said rescue personnel conducting an initial assessment heard someone groaning in pain beneath the debris.
Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin told reporters that “almost all the victims were asleep because the incident happened in the early hours of the morning”.
The Foreign Ministry urged Malaysians requiring immediate consular assistance, or those with information regarding Malaysians who may have been in the affected area, to contact the Malaysian Embassy in Manila via its general line at +63 286628200, emergency hotline after office hours at +63 961 0778113, or email at mwmanila@kln.gov.my.
“The ministry expresses its deepest sympathies to all those affected by this incident,” it said.
Media reports stated that 26 individuals were rescued after a nine-storey building under construction collapsed early yesterday in Angeles City.
Of that number, 24 victims were pulled from the collapsed structure, while two others were rescued from a nearby hotel apartment also affected by the incident.
