One killed and many feared trapped under collapsed building in Philippines

At least one person has been killed and about 20 people are feared trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed early on Sunday in a city near the Philippine capital, Manila. A search operation has so far rescued 24 people from the site in Angeles and two from a nearby hotel that was struck by falling debris. The nine-storey building had still been under construction when it suddenly gave way around 03:00 local time on Sunday (19:00 GMT on Saturday). Officials are now investigating the cause of the collapse. Many of those trapped are thought to be construction workers who were unable to escape in time. Later on Sunday, local officials said the person confirmed to have died was a 65-year-old man from Malaysia, who had reportedly been staying in the hotel. He had managed to communicate with rescuers by phone while pinned under a hotel wall, acting Philippine fire chief Rico Kwan Tiu told the AFP news agency. "When we retrieved him... he was already lifeless," he said. Images from the scene showed a mangled heap of scaffolding and concrete splaying out onto the street, covered by green safety netting. City information officer Jay Pelayo told AFP that the building's walls and