• Nineteen workers are feared trapped after a nine-storey building collapsed near Manila.
• Rescue efforts are complicated due to large concrete debris.
• Initial reports indicate around 30 to 40 individuals may be trapped.
• Two individuals were reported alive and communicating with rescuers.
• A Malaysian national was among those rescued from a nearby hotel.

Nineteen people are feared trapped after a nine-storey building under construction collapsed in Angeles City, about 80 km north of Manila. Officials reported that the incident occurred at approximately 3 a.m. local time. "The building's walls and scaffolding had buckled," said Jay Pelayo, the city information officer, indicating significant challenges for ongoing rescue operations due to large chunks of concrete debris, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

Reports indicate that around 30 to 40 people are missing based on information from the site foreman. As of now, 24 individuals have reportedly been rescued, including a 51-year-old Malaysian national from a nearby hotel, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia. Pelayo noted, “We are trying to determine whether all 19 were there,” as rescue efforts continue amidst unclear circumstances surrounding the collapse.

Rescue teams face significant obstacles, including the difficulty of moving concrete debris safely. Pelayo confirmed that two individuals trapped in the rubble are alive and in contact with rescuers, stating, “They are in constant communication” as conditions remain critical, according to Reuters.