Walkins Hotel shuts operations after nearby incident kills one guest
The collapse of a nine-storey construction site in Angeles City, Pampanga has forced a newly opened hotel nearby to shut down indefinitely after sustaining damage just one month into operations.
Walkins Hotel, located beside the construction site, was partially damaged when the structure collapsed in the early hours of May 24. One of the rooms affected was occupied by a Malaysian national—65-year-old Mohd Rezal Bin Abdullah—who was killed in the collapse.
Hotel owner Grace Lego told Rappler that she and her family were awakened by the crash, initially mistaking it for an earthquake. Guests were able to evacuate immediately, but several parked vehicles were crushed by falling debris.
The hotel has announced a temporary suspension of operations while local authorities continue to inspect the site and assess structural safety. Walkins Hotel had only opened in April, catering in part to visitors attending the Aurora Music Festival held in Clark earlier this month.
Nearby businesses along Teodoro Street, an emerging tourism and entertainment strip, have also temporarily closed amid safety concerns and ongoing clearing operations in the area.
The collapsed structure was a nine-storey construction site for a proposed hotel that gave way at around 3 a.m. on May 24, trapping at least 46 people, mostly workers. As of latest reports, 26 have been rescued, at least four have died, and 16 remain missing.
The building was owned by Golden Years Construction and Steelworks, a Malabon-based firm, which has yet to issue a statement. Authorities had issued a work stoppage order in September 2025 due to repeated safety violations.
