Tuesday, September 09, 2008
1 more landslide hits Compostela
By Ben o. Tesiorna
A THIRD landslide was reported in Compostela Valley Sunday afternoon, this time hitting the gold-rush mountain of Diwalwal. Earlier on, two landslides hit the old mining village of Masara in Maco that resulted in the destruction to lives, limbs, and properties.
The Diwalwal landslide injured a two-year-old girl.
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Mt. Diwata barangay chief Franco Tito said Sunday's landslide happened around 5:30 in the afternoon at Purok 1A. The slide damaged the residence of Ariel Saballe. The lone casualty, two-year-old Marijoy Saballe, is now recuperating at the hospital.
Estimated cost of damage was P150,000.
In Masara, Maco, the number of fatalities is placed at 14 and the missing persons have risen to 16. Nineteen people were also reported hurt.
Office of Civil Defense-Southern Mindanao Director Liza Mazo said about 350 families had already been evacuated from Barangay Masara. She denied reports that families from nearby barangays were also evacuated for possible landslides.
Eighteen houses were destroyed by the twin landslides. The first slide happened Saturday, September 6, around 3:30 in the afternoon.
The landslide that hit the barangay center was believed triggered by heavy rains. The following day, at three in the morning, another wave of landslide occurred in the same place that virtually rendered the roads impassable to all types of vehicles.
The OCD identified five of the eight fatalities as Esteban Mahilit, 59 years old; mother and daughters Maria Christine Labor, 4, Maria Teresa Labor, 1, and Rosemarie Labor, 28; and Harold Sanchez.
Seven of the nine injured are meanwhile identified as Pagay Pablo, 9 years old; Eduardo Lazaro, 65; Estrella Magnanao, 52; Eugene Peraliz, 17; Ynaya Sotero, 37; Edwin Romeo, 36; and Jeremy Abuol, 28.
The evacuees are temporarily housed at the Masara elementary school. Rescue efforts are ongoing as of Monday.
This is not the first time that a landslide hit the said barangay. On August 7, 2007, a landslide also affected the village where 10 people were killed. The barangay is near a mining site.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 9, 2008 issue)
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