THREE children aged 1, 2, and 4 and a 30-year-old mother died when a riprap along the national highway in the southern tip of Samboan town, Cebu collapsed on four houses during heavy rains past 9 p.m. Sunday night.
Siblings Nathaniel, 4, and Erol, 2, surnamed Cañete and Florence Galia, 30, were pronounced dead on arrival at the M.J. Cuenco Memorial Hospital in the neighboring town of Malabuyoc.
Rescuers also found past 9 a.m. yesterday the body of one-year-old Rosebelle Joy Galia buried in mud near a mansanitas tree a few meters away from where her parents’ house was standing.
Rosebelle Joy was the daughter of Florence and Edwin Galia, 30.
Edwin, his two other daughters Rowella, 4, and Ritchell, 3, and his 27-year-old sister Judith were admitted to the same hospital in Malabuyoc for bruises in the different parts of their bodies.
Edwin and Judith were later transferred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.
The Samboan Police Station identified three other injured residents as George Caballero, 50, and his twin sons Richard and Raymond, aged 14.
Dr. Henry Calledo, chief of hospital of M.J. Cuenco Memorial Hospital, told reporters that Edwin complained of chest pain after a rock fell on him while Judith was injured in the shoulder.
Rowella and Ritchell suffered bruises and scratches particularly in their faces, arms and legs.
Samboan Mayor Raymond Joseph Calderon said heavy rains caused the riprap along the national road to give way, pushing a portion of the road to cave in and slide towards the houses on Sitio Escaltam in Barangay Poblacion.
The area is at the back of the municipal hall across the national road.
Buses and other vehicles, though, can still pass one lane of the road.
Calderon said they have evacuated the affected residents to the town’s multipurpose gym and extended relief aid to them.
Marivic Garces, chief of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said Capitol also sent an initial six sacks of rice, six cartons of sardines and noodles, including blankets and mattresses to the victims.
Roberto Cañete, 36, father of Nathaniel and Erol, who were unscathed, said that the incident occurred at the height of a heavy downpour that started at around 7 p.m.
He had just finished sending his two sons to sleep when he heard what appeared to be a thunderclap, prompting him to look out through the window. (Roberto and his two sons slept in their living room.)
He then saw a portion of land, about 50 meters high, roll towards his house.
“Nakaambak ko sa bintana,” Roberto said. Out of panic, he forgot to take his two sons with him before leaping out of the window.
His wife Babelona and his one-year-old daughter Rubie, who were sleeping in their bedroom, were not hurt.
Three other houses owned by the Galiases, Celedonia Balbuena and George Caballero were destroyed.
Neighbors and police personnel from Samboan and neighboring Santander town rushed to the area to help in the search and rescue.
Ambulances from the towns of Samboan and Santander brought the victims to the nearest hospital in Malabuyoc.
The bodies of those who died lie in state at Sr. San Roque Chapel in Sitio Escaltam.
Calderon said he will no longer allow the residents to go back to the area.
He informed the Department of Public Works and Highway about the incident so immediate repairs will be done.
A woman, who is in her late ‘50s, told Sun.Star Cebu the riprap was built before she was born.
Yesterday’s incident, she said, was also the first in the area.
Calderon said the municipal government will shoulder the burial expenses of the fatalities.
Financial assistance will be extended to the injured victims, he added.
The Municipal Council held its session yesterday afternoon, where it was expected to declare Sitio Escaltam under a state of calamity.
This allows the Municipal Government to use its calamity fund to help the victims. (JST/GMD)
