A construction site in Manila has collapsed, trapping dozens of workers under tonnes of concrete and twisted steel. Local emergency services are racing against the clock, but reports from the scene suggest the death toll could climb. Meanwhile, UK International Search and Rescue teams have been placed on standby, awaiting the official request from Philippine authorities.
This is not a disaster that happened out of the blue. Sources on the ground tell me the project was plagued by safety violations and accusations of corner-cutting. Documents I have seen show that the developer, a firm with deep ties to local politicians, ignored multiple stop-work orders.
The question now is whether this is negligence or something worse. The Foreign Office says it is monitoring the situation closely. But for the families waiting by the rubble, that is cold comfort.
They want answers. They want the bodies of their loved ones pulled from the wreckage. And they want to know who is responsible.
This story is developing. But the early signs point to a familiar pattern of greed and impunity.
