4 hurt in Makati landslide

MANILA, Philippines - Four persons, including a woman who is two months pregnant, were hurt in a landslide that crushed three shanties in Barangay East Rembo, Makati City yesterday afternoon.

East Rembo barangay chairman Artemio Contreras said Kenny Rose Valerio’s legs were pinned by rubble that weighed nearly a ton. She was rescued by rescue units from Barangay East Rembo, Makati City and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

The three other persons suffered slight bruises on their legs and arms, Contreras said. All the victims were treated at the Ospital ng Makati and declared out of danger, he said.

Contreras told The STAR that the landslide – which happened at about 2:30 p.m. – was caused by construction work being done on the Cavalry Hills housing project, which is located on a ridge along C-5 near Kalayaan Avenue.

According to Contreras, the victims are residents of three shanties were built at the foot of the ridge. “They were removed from there previously after the area was declared a danger zone. But they returned last year,” Contreras said. According to Contreras, some 33 persons live in the three shanties.

Contreras said landslides could happen anytime in the area as the ridge is mostly made of adobe, which “has fissures. We can’t really tell when it will fall.”

Contreras said he has already asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to fortify the ridge walls along C-5. The DPWH has yet to respond, he said.

According to Contreras, the Makati City government cannot on its own strengthen the ridge walls as C5 is a national road.