9 injured in Diwalwal landslide

DAVAO CITY – At least nine people were injured when a landslide struck the gold-rush site on Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo, Compostela Valley early yesterday morning.

Senior Superintendent Ronald de la Rosa, Compostela Valley police director, said the landslide buried the house of a certain Felix Elimino in Purok 17, Tinago district.

De la Rosa said the nine people who were rescued were actually staying in Elimino’s house.

Dela Rosa said elements of the Mt. Diwalwal special police sub-station were the first to respond to the incident.

He identified those who were among the first to be rescued as Junjun Ayco, Grace Sorilla, James Tumala, and a certain JC Atun, all reported to be among the more than 40,000 small-scale miners eking out a living on Mt. Diwalwal.

Authorities have repeatedly warned the miners to be extra cautious, especially with the onset of the rainy season. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe