6 dead, 1 missing in Lanao landslide

Lanao del Norte – At least six people died and one was reported missing in a landslide Wednesday in Salvador town, this province, according to municipal officials.

Former Salvador town Mayor Johnny Tawantawan, a municipal consultant, said that continuous heavy rains for the past three days might have caused the landslide in Sitio Pantar, Barangay Buntong, Salvador town, this province.

Municipal rescuers retrieved bodies of at least six people buried in the landslide. They were later given proper burial according to Muslim tradition, Tawan­tawan said.

The victims were identified by authorities as Marsalam Macabangao, Masarangao Am­paso, Migkawaya Abubakar, Salhia Samer Nihaya Samer and Alan Lumusog.

Other areas affected by the heavy rains are Barangays Dalidigan, Padianan and Kilala, authorities reported.

The approach to a bridge connecting the poblacion of the said town to Barangay Dali­digan was also destroyed by the rush of floodwaters, Ta­wan­tawan said.

At least 20 houses in Ba­rangay Buntong of the said town were damaged including other infrastructure.

The damage caused by the heavy rains to the town’s establishments and agriculture is estimated to reach at least P4 million, according tothe Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council.

As of presstime, rescuers were still looking for one person who was reported by his family as missing.