AFTER almost two weeks, search and retrieval operations in the landslide-hit area in Natonin, Mountain Province will end Friday, November 9, according to Mayor Mateo Chiyawan.
Several groups of emergency responders have been working at ground zero, where a landslide struck and caused the collapse of the building of the 2nd Engineering District Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera in Sitio Hakrang, Barangay Banawel, during the onslaught of Typhoon Rosita.
“The official termination of SAR operations will commence this November 9. Yesterday, half of those engaged in rescue and retrieval have left consisting of those coming from the army and Philippine National Police while those who are left consists of volunteers. Other volunteers coming from the neighboring municipalities who have missing persons like Besao, Mountain Province and Aguinaldo and Mayoyao in Ifugao,” Chiyawan said in a radio interview.
Volunteers from other towns were, however, expected to continue search and retrieval operations.
Chiyawan sid they will hold a ritual for the casualties at ground zero as part of the cultural tradition in Natonin.
Eighteen bodies have been retrieved from the landslide site. Two were still unidentified as of Thursday while 11 remained missing and were believed to have been swept away by the raging river current.
“On my part upon our analysis, there are around 70 to 80 percent tendency that some of the missing may have been swept away by the current along the river because most of the missing were believed to have been seen from the top of the building. Of the seven who were at the main building, only one individual who is a barangay secretary of Banawel is yet to be retrieved,” Chiyawan said.