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Philippines
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PH Red Cross deploys 38-man rescue team after Pampanga building collapse
Philippines
National
PH Red Cross deploys 38-man rescue team after Pampanga building collapse
PH Red Cross deploys 38-man rescue team after Pampanga building collapse
By Jel Santos
Published May 25, 2026 12:18 pm
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Updated May 25, 2026 01:10 pm
(PRC PHOTO)
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said it mobilized a 38-man response team to sustain round-the-clock operations following the collapse of a nine-story building under construction in Angeles City, Pampanga, which caused casualties and prompted extensive search and rescue operations.
In a statement, the PRC said the structure on Teodoro Street in Barangay Balibago collapsed early on May 24, affecting an estimated 30 to 40 individuals.
The PRC said rescue operations remained ongoing as responders continued searching the site.
According to the humanitarian organization, trapped individuals had been rescued from the collapsed structure, while several construction workers were also able to evacuate unharmed.
The PRC added that injured individuals were brought to Angeles Hospital for medical treatment, while displaced construction workers were temporarily sheltered at the Barangay Balibago Covered Court.
“With deep sadness, the team on the ground has confirmed 1 fatality from the incident,” the PRC said.
The PRC said its Safety and Emergency Response Units have shifted to 24-hour standby operations to support ongoing rescue efforts.
(PRC PHOTO)
It added that emergency assets deployed to the area include an ambulance from the Pampanga Chapter, an augmentation ambulance from the Olongapo Chapter, and a seven-member Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) team from Olongapo with two service vehicles.
A First Aid Station also remains operational at the scene to assist responders and survivors, the PRC noted.
Meanwhile, its Welfare Services are operating a 24-hour Welfare Desk at Ospital Ning Angeles to coordinate with hospital personnel and facilitate Restoring Family Links (RFL) services.
The PRC said its personnel are also actively tracking the wife of one rescued worker, who is reportedly employed under the local government of Lupi, Camarines Sur.
“Our Disaster Management Services (DMS) maintain a constant presence at the Incident Command Post, keeping logistical resources like cadaver bags on standby, while Blood Services keep nearby blood stocks on high alert to support local medical units if a sudden demand arises,” the PRC said.
The PRC said an initial disaster report submitted by RC143 volunteer Maverick Escoto allowed its National Headquarters Operations Center to immediately coordinate with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Angeles and the Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).