NABUNTURAN, Davao de Oro. The death toll from a devastating landslide in the southern Philippines has surged to 54, announced the provincial government on Sunday, as rescue efforts persistently unearth more victims from the debris.
The landslide, which occurred on Tuesday night near a gold mine in Maco town in the province of Davao de Oro, engulfed homes and vehicles transporting workers to the Apex Mining site.
In a Facebook post, the provincial government of Davao de Oro revised the death toll from an earlier count of 37 to 54, as rescue teams discovered additional casualties amidst the mud and rubble.
Currently, 63 individuals remain unaccounted for, although the provincial government has cautioned that this figure is subject to verification. The landslide also left 32 people wounded.
Edward Macapili, an official from Davao de Oro, disclosed that over 300 personnel are engaged in the rescue operation. However, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and thick mud, coupled with the looming threat of further landslides, have impeded progress.
Despite the challenging circumstances, rescue efforts resumed on Sunday morning, with Macapili conceding that the likelihood of finding survivors at this stage is slim. Nonetheless, he affirmed the unwavering commitment of the rescue team to persevere in their search and retrieval mission.
“The rescue team is doing its best, even if it’s very difficult,” Macapili conveyed to Reuters over the phone.
The province of Davao de Oro has been grappling with relentless torrential rains in recent weeks, exacerbating the risk of flooding and landslides across the region.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
