6 dead, 15 missing in Bukidnon landslide

MANILA, Philippines - At least six people died and several others were reported missing in a landslide caused by heavy rains in Valencia City, Bukidnon, officials said yesterday.

Lt. Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo, commander of the Army’s 8th Battalion, said they are still determining the number of missing persons as soldiers continue to conduct rescue operations in the area.

“Based on the report given to me by troops in the area, the body count is six. The number of missing persons is still undetermined. We are still finding ways to determine the number and their identities,” Cuerpo said in Filipino.

Authorities are still determining the identities of the six fatalities as of press time.

Local police reports, however, estimated that about 20 persons believed to be residents of San Fernando, Bukidnon, were buried by the landslide.

Cuerpo said the landslide in Barangay Lumbayao, Valencia City, was caused by the rainy weather that triggered soil erosion.

“For the past weeks, Bukidnon experienced rainy weather. This is one of the factors that triggered the erosion of loose ground,” he said.

Cuerpo said the landslide happened at about 7 a.m. in the morning and buried motorcycles known locally as habal habal.

“There were motorcycles that were buried and these are the commercial motorcycles that carry passengers. These are the primary means of transportation in the area,” he said.

Office of Civil Defense administrator Benito Ramos said the rains in the province resulted in the erosion of soil onto the provincial highway.

“We still do not know how many vehicles were buried,” Ramos said.

Cuerpo said troops in the area are continuously conducting rescue operations.

”Hopefully we could rescue survivors... We are (racing) against time,” he said.

Maj. Eugenio Osias IV, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Division, said they have alerted troops who can augment the rescue teams.

He said 4th Division Commander Maj. Gen. Victor Felix had ordered them to exhaust all available manpower for the rescue operations.

The landslide in Bukidnon happened a few days after the flashflood in Davao City which left 30 people dead.

More than 12,000 families residing in five barangays have been affected by the incident.