Rescuers are still searching for 49 missing individuals in the fatal landslide in Maco, Davao de Oro, which has claimed the lives of at least seven people, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional office said on Thursday.
“I-update kita. Ito from the ground, seven dead, 31 injured, 49 missing (I will update you. This is information from the ground: seven dead, 31 injured, 49 missing),” OCD Davao Region director Ednar Dayanghirang said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
On Tuesday night, a landslide struck a garage of a bus company, a barangay hall, and residential areas at Zone 1 Barangay Masara in Maco town.
The affected area was near a mining site where employees were working in three shifts for its 24-hour operation. Some workers were about to go home when the landslide occurred.
Aside from around 30 passengers of two buses, more residents were feared buried in the landslide, according to local disaster officials.
Rescuers were facing challenges with their operation because the landslide was massive.
Before the landslide in Maco, a total of 21 deaths due to floods and landslides were reported in Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte, according to the provincial disaster risk reduction and management offices.
Affected communities
As of Thursday morning, 1,193,443 people were affected by the effects of Northeast Monsoon or Amihan and the trough of a low pressure area (LPA), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
The affected regions were Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga and Bangsamoro.
Of the affected population, 68,024 people or 18,551 families were staying in 275 evacuation centers while 605,573 people or 166,271 families were staying in other places.
According to OCD XI, some of the evacuees in Maco are now gradually returning to their homes after authorities inspected the concerned area where the landslide also covered a portion of a river.
State of calamity
Damage to infrastructure worth P123,547,000 was reported. A total of 1,308 houses were also damaged—552 totally and 756 partially.
State of calamity was declared in the entire province of Agusan del Sur and in Lingig town in Surigao del Sur.
“On 28 January 2024, the Northeast Monsoon and the Trough of the LPA ffected Mindanao,” the NDRRMC said.
“The trough of the LPA continued to bring light to heavy rains until 03 February 2024. This resulted in flooding and landslide incidents in some areas in Mindanao. On 03 February 2024, 11:00 AM, the LPA has dissipated,” it added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Read more, click here: GMA News
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