Pampanga building collapse death toll now 5

 ANGELES CITY, Philippines —  The number of fatalities in the collapse of a building in this city has risen to five after another body was retrieved from the rubble yesterday morning.

The Bureau of Fire Protection in Central Luzon said that members of a search and rescue team extracted the body at around 8 a.m.

A phone was found in the man’s body, which may help authorities identify him.

A K-9 unit of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) discovered the body at 6:18 p.m. on Wednesday in the rubble.

The PCG deployed six K-9 teams to help in the search for the victims, according to PCG spokesperson Cmdre. Noemie Cayabyab.

Each team is composed of a canine and two PCG men.

Four fatalities including a Malaysian national were initially recovered from the scene of the incident, which occurred before dawn in Barangay Balibago on Sunday.

Fifteen more people are believed trapped under piles of concrete and steel.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla assured families of missing victims that the search and rescue operation would continue until everyone, dead or alive, is found.

– With Bella Cariaso, Emmanuel Tupas