Zamboanga landslide, flash flood fatalities climb to 6

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The number of fatalities in the landslides and flash floods that hit this city on Friday has increased to six, authorities said yesterday.

Search and rescue teams found the remains of the victims in separate areas in Barangay Pamucutan, according to the city disaster risk reduction and management office.

CDRRMO chief Elmeir Apolinario identified four of the fatalities as Leonilo Moret, 47, and his son Justine, 10, of Sitio Papaya, and Myca Ortega, 27, and her son JM, 6, of Sitio Anuling.

Authorities have yet to identify the two other fatalities.

The Morets died when their house was swept away during a mudslide on Friday night.

Leonilo’s body was found in a river in Sitio San Ramon while Justine was recovered from the Anuling River on Sunday night.

The remains of Myca and her son were retrieved from under the rubble in Sitio Anuling yesterday.

Apolinario said search and retrieval teams used a backhoe to remove the bodies under a pile of mud and rocks.

Up to 2,000 families in 16 barangays were displaced by the flood.

Apolinario said the city government has yet to determine the amount of damage caused by the calamities.