Alfredo Albis, 55, told AFP he was asleep at a barracks for workers about 5m from the structure when it gave way.
“I have two cousins who are still trapped there. They were working here to earn for their families and (they) are missing,” he said, adding “there’s a possibility that my relatives are dead”.
Sajili, the fire bureau spokeswoman, said that “rescue in (a) building collapse is very challenging since any sudden shift triggered by the movements of our rescuers can cause areas to move and people under can get crushed”.
Sudden movements “may also bury our responders”, she said, explaining why this phase of the operation had to be done mostly manually.
Rescuers will now use thermal scanners to check if there are possible signs of life, she said.
If no more survivors are found, mechanical diggers and other heavy equipment will be brought in to clear debris and recover bodies, she said, but gave no timeline.
Read the full article here
