Bernama, quoting Xinhua, reported that 26 people were rescued after a nine-storey building under construction collapsed early today in Angeles City.

Twenty-four people were pulled from the collapsed structure, while two others were rescued from a nearby apartment hotel affected by the incident.

Previously, AFP quoted a local government official as saying the building’s walls and scaffolding had buckled, trapping people under debris.

Wisma Putra said it is monitoring the situation, with the Malaysian embassy in Manila gathering information through local authorities.

It said two Malaysians were affected by the disaster, with one confirmed safe.

“The ministry is currently ascertaining the status of the second Malaysian national,” it said in a statement.

“The embassy is in close communication with local authorities to monitor the wellbeing of the citizen who is safe and to verify the status and whereabouts of the remaining national.

“Concurrently, all necessary efforts are being made to locate and establish contact with the next of kin of both individuals,” it said.

Wisma Putra said Malaysians requiring immediate consular assistance, or those with information about other Malaysians in the area, may contact the embassy in Manila at +63-2866-28200, +63-9610-778113, or [email protected].