AROUND 22 rescue groups scampered into the landslide site in Sitio Sindulan, Barangay Tina-an, City of Naga, Thursday morning, September 20.
As if wading through thick muck wasn’t that grueling enough, they have to contend with boulders, fallen trees and vegetation that tumbled forth with the earth dawn of Thursday to find just any hint of human life pushing against tons of soil.
About 300 of them were deployed by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices of the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, even Carcar, Sibonga, Liloan, Barili, Ronda, Medellin, Consolacion and Dumanjug.
Likewise, search, rescue and retrieval teams were also sent by the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Seagull Rescue, Philippine Coast Guard, Rescue Safari, Cafgu 47th Infantry Battalion, React, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Navy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other groups.
At 6 p.m., all the search and rescue efforts were put on hold as the Police Regional Office 7 shifted focus to forced evacuation among nearby residents.
City of Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong said the search efforts were stopped since there is no electricity in the area and they don’t have enough equipment for night operations. She said the ground, softened by incessant rain, pose a danger to rescuers.
At the break of dawn today, rescuers are back at work. (SCG)