Search continues for victims trapped in collapsed Pampanga supermarket

Chuzon Supermarket in Porac, Pampanga, was one of the structures damaged by a magnitude 6.1 quake that shook parts of Luzon on Monday, April 22, 2019. (Photo by FAYE ORELLANA / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Rescuers are still looking for persons trapped in the rubble of the Chuzon Supermarket in Porac, Pampanga following its collapse during the magnitude 6.1 earthquake on Monday.

“Hindi pa rin tumitigil ‘yung mga rescuers natin sa ground zero kasi parang meron pa silang hinihinala na tao sa first floor, ‘yung grocery [store],” Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer on Wednesday.

(Our rescuers have not stopped searching at ground zero because they suspect some are still trapped at the first floor which has the grocery store.)

Pineda agreed with President Rodrigo Duterte in his order to stop the operations of all branches of the supermarket in Pampanga to assess if it has the same structural design that failed to withstand the strong earthquake.

READ: Duterte orders Chuzon stores in Pampanga to stop operations

Pineda added that the structural design of the Porac grocery branch was supposed to be for a two-storey building. The building instead had four floors.

“Titingnan ‘yung design, titingnan kung gaano ba katibay yung istruktura (We will look at the design and see how strong the structure is),” Pineda said.

The governor also said she was relieved with the promise of financial support for the province from the President when the Chief Executive visited Pampanga on Tuesday.

Reports say at least four bodies were retrieved and dozens were injured as of Tuesday night after the building collapsed. Others are still reportedly missing after the incident.

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar earlier said the supermarket was only built four years ago.  /muf

WATCH: Retrieval operations continue at Chuzon supermarket in Porac, Pampanga on Tuesday afternoon. The said establishment collapsed due to the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that struck Luzon, Monday @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/txuqK0AxqH

— Faye Orellana (@FMOrellanaINQ) April 23, 2019

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