23 dead as Angeles building rubble yields another body

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga— Rescuers recovered another body from the site of the collapsed nine-story building in Barangay Balibago on Wednesday morning, raising the death toll from the tragedy to 23.

The Unified Command said the 23rd confirmed casualty was recovered at 9:12 a.m. during ongoing search, rescue, and retrieval operations at the collapse site.

Authorities have yet to release details regarding the identity of the latest victim pending verification by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO).

READ: Death toll in Angeles building collapse rises to 22

The recovery came hours after responders extricated a victim at 7:21 a.m., who was located at 4:04 a.m on Wednesday.

The under-construction building collapsed before dawn on May 24, trapping construction workers and other individuals in and around the structure.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the collapse./coa