• Three confirmed dead and 17 missing after a building collapse in Angeles City, Philippines.
• Rescue operations continue as authorities search for trapped workers, primarily construction personnel.
• Officials are investigating the cause of the incident, with signs of life detected beneath the rubble.

Authorities in Angeles City, Philippines, report that a nine-storey building under construction collapsed early on Sunday, leading to three confirmed deaths and 17 missing individuals. Among the deceased is a Malaysian tourist who was hit by debris from the affected structure, which gave way around 2:30 a.m. local time. Rescue operations have so far led to the retrieval of 24 individuals, many of whom were workers at the site, while efforts are ongoing to locate those still trapped, according to Los Angeles Times, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.

City information officer Jay Pelayo stated that the victims are predominantly construction workers who were on site when the building collapsed, with reports indicating rescue operations have detected signs of life through thermal scans. Two of the trapped workers were initially rescued but later succumbed to their injuries, highlighting the challenges faced during the operation, as rescuers must navigate unstable debris, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.

As of the latest reports, rescue efforts have mobilized nearly 700 personnel, including firefighters and police, while the local government is investigating the collapse's cause. Families of the missing have expressed frustration with the speed of operations, with calls for regular updates on their loved ones’ statuses, emphasized by city officials’ acknowledgment of potentially poor construction practices that could have contributed to the tragedy, according to South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, and Reuters.