2 dead in Mindoro landslide

MANILA, Philippines — Two persons died in a landslide in Oriental Mindoro yesterday amid heavy rains spawned by a low-pressure area.

Lt. Col. Imelda Tolentino, Mimaropa police spokesperson, said the bodies of Jaypee Festijo, 28, and his four-year-old son Ybarro were recovered at around 10:30 a.m.

Gov. Humerlito Dolor said the fatalities, who were sleeping when the landslide occurred at around 5 a.m., were residents of Barangay Bayani in Najuan town.

“May na-recover kaming dalawang cadaver,” Dolor said in an interview over dzBB.

He said residents were caught off guard by the flash flood.

Dolor noted that there was no forecast of heavy rains during a meeting of local officials with representatives of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

He said Calapan City and four towns were submerged in floodwaters.

In Cagayan, the provincial road in Barangay Capanikian Sur in Allacapan was impassable as rains caused by the tail-end of a cold front inundated parts of the province, also yesterday.

PAGASA raised the yellow rainfall warning in Allacapan, Sta. Ana, Sto. Niño, Claveria, Pamplona, Sta. Praxedes, Sanchez Mira and Camiguin Island. – Raymund Catindig