2 persons, coffin ‘buried’ after land caves in due to recent earthquake, rains

FOLLOWING the recent earthquake and rains, the wall of a chapel in Sitio Anakma, Barangay Pagsabungan in Mandaue City collapsed during a wake yesterday afternoon.

Loosened soil and rocks covered the coffin and two persons who were attending the wake. Both sustained injuries.

In Talisay City, a councilor said the landslide in the mountain barangay is a “wake-up call” to his fellow City officials, especially those supporting measures allowing small-scale quarries in landslide-prone areas.

The landslide blocked a road in Barangay Camp 4 that led to Toledo City last Monday, but vehicles can now pass through, after one lane was cleared of debris.

In the Mandaue City landslide, PO2 Richard Ares of Basak Police Station said Jeremy Cordero, 24, and her boyfriend Renegio Magallanes, 25, were both injured when the chapel wall collapsed.

A heavy downpour in Mandaue City yesterday loosened the land, causing it to cave in past 2 p.m. while the victims were attending the chapel service of Jeremy's grandmother Corazon, 70.

Residents heard a loud thud when the wall gave way and damaged the San Roque chapel.

Spared

Their neighbors immediately came to the rescue and pulled the two and the coffin out.

The coffin and several religious artifacts, including the chapel saint, were spared from damage.

Jovy Sungahid, a member of Accident Control and Emergency Rescue Team (Acert) of Mandaue City, told Sun.Star Cebu they brought the victims to Mandaue City Hospital.

Jeremy was injured in her chin while Renegio had lacerated wounds in his mouth, Sungahid added.

To give a proper wake to Corazon, who reportedly died of a heart attack, neighbors helped put up an improvised chapel nearby by setting up a tent and layering the ground with stones.

Pagsabungan Barangay Councilor Bubbles Soson, who rushed to the area, led the transfer.

“Para tarong pud iyang pag-adto sa langit (So she would have a proper journey to heaven),” Soson said.

Clearing

Meanwhile, the Talisay City Government, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its official contractor QM Builders partially cleared of landslide debris one lane of the Talisay-Toledo Wharf Access Road in Barangay Camp 4 yesterday morning.

Talisay City Assistant Engineer Gamaliel Vicente told reporters yesterday that after hearing the report from the barangay, they immediately sent heavy construction equipment to the site and assisted personnel of QM Builders with the clean-up.

They also called the attention of DPWH 2nd engineering district officials, the proponent on the P53.6-million road widening project, which includes Camp 4.

Willie Abatayo, one of QM Builder’s field supervisors on the road widening project, said they cleared the area of debris until 4 a.m. yesterday.

During clearing operations, they placed a team of spotters in the area to guide motorists and passersby.

Hazards

In yesterday’s regular Council session, Talisay City Councilor Danny Caballero brought up the hazards posed by landslides.

But Talisay City Vice Mayor Alan Bucao commented yesterday that they already called the attention of the DPWH 2nd engineering district.

Caballero, who visited the area again yesterday, commented that the landslide in Camp 4 will serve as a warning to his fellow city officials, especially those involved in the approval of small scale quarrying permits in the city’s mountain barangays.

Caballero, one of those who opposed small-scale quarrying in Talisay’s hinter lands, said that while the landslide was not caused by quarrying, the constant excavations in the mountains often triggered landslides.