Three landslides in one area 19 bodies found, six of them minors

CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines – As of 7 a.m. yesterday, a total of 19 bodies have been retrieved by search and recovery teams, four of whom were still being subjected to identification, after being recovered only yesterday dawn.

Mayor Stephanie Uy Tan told The Freeman that several others were still buried under the huge pile of earth from the landslide that occurred three times in a residential area at Barangay Mercedes in the city.

More may have been missing, based on eyewitnesses’ accounts that there were passersby when the second wave (the big one) took place, she said, adding that as of yesterday morning, a passenger shuttle van (marked Van-Van) was still buried in the mound.

The following is the official list of 15 identified casualties, as of 10:45 p.m. of Tuesday, after the post-mortem management conducted by the City Health Office:

Fideliza Cablao, 62, Gregorio Carcellar, 56, Rico Carcellar, 17, Jhenefah Comedia, 3, Kyle Jiggs del Rosario, 15, Jassel Giray, 9, Rodolfo Guevarra, 70, Alysa Lozada, 12, Felicisimo Lozada, 77, Jay-R Mabag, 19, Michael Mabag, 25, Jeffrey Mabag, 23, Ruel Pantaleon, 34, Rafael Tafalla, 17, Joyce Uy, 7.

The 11 injured but were released by the hospital as out-patients were: Danilo Batalla, 61, Evelyn Tan, 54, Rexzel Labitao, 34, Melanie Lozada, 38, Leslie Malay, 20, Ma. Carlyn Villarante, 48, John Paul Aquino, 23, Ma. Luz Pabilona, 43, and three minors, aged 16, 14 and 13.

The six injured, still confined at the Samar Hospital to this day, are: Paul Labrague, 38, Apolonio Lozada, 73, Angeles Lozada, 64, Emerita Mabag, 48, and two minors, aged 9 and 11.

The landslide area, covering puroks 4, 5 and 6 or from the Church up to the Mendiola Mansion, was already passable with one lane opened to allow continuous retrieval operations.

Edwin Mengullo, a resident and survivor, narrated that the first wave of the landslide happened at about 6 a.m. and initially covered the half part of the highway.

The second wave occurred at 7:15 a.m. when the major chunk of the land collapsed, bringing down at least six houses from the hilltop, hitting and covering 10 more houses located along the roadside and several more across the road, by the bayside, he said, adding that the third wave of erosion was minor hitting one house at about 9 a.m.

Most of the fatalities came from the houses located at the bayside because they did not evacuate their place even after the first wave of the landslide, said Mengullo.

Mayor Tan immediately ordered the forced evacuation of about 139 families from the landslide site in Mercedes.

She said there were no casualty from the reported landslides in Barangays Bunuanan and Poblacion 13, also in the city, but damage to several houses there were noted by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The mayor also issued an official press statement on the tragedy, stating in part: “It is with deepest sadness that I am informing everyone of the heartbreaking tragedy that have caused the lives of people found at Barangay Mercedes, Catbalogan City, caused by landslides due to the heavy rains brought by typhoon Seniang. It is remorseful that this has to happen while we have just celebrated Christmas and we are positively looking forward to a bright 2015. ... I am wishing all to stay strong in our minds and hearts amidst this tragedy. I am urging all to pray for all the victims and their families of this calamity.”

Samar Governor Ann Tan announced yesterday morning: “All landslide-affected roads within the province are already partly passable (half lane), including the Maharlika Highway (Calbayog to Sta. Rita). Flood-affected areas are now passable.”

Meanwhile, the Catbalogan Water District announced that the pipes from San Andres to the city’s watershed incurred big damage due to the series of landslides. Even if its personnel have been working to repair the damage, there might be no more time to restore the water supply to city consumers. This may meant that residents may not have enough water for cooking and basic needs for the New Year.