MGB-7 wants residents living above collapsed tunnel to be evacuated

CEBU, Philippines - The Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 has recommended the evacuation of residents living above what appears to be a World War II tunnel in Salinas Drive, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, that collapsed due to excessive rainfall.

The tunnel collapsed Thursday morning with no casualties.

The MGB-7 team headed by geologist Abraham Lucero inspected the area yesterday and came up with the recommendation to evacuate the residents living nearby because of the probability of another cave-in especially as more rains are expected to come with the arrival of the rainy season.

There are three houses located within the marked danger zones that need to be evacuated immediately, Lucero said.

The hole that the collapse created is approximately five meters from the surface and four meters by 2.5 meters wide.

The tunnel, believed to have been created by Japanese invaders during World War II, stretches 12 meters long, three meters wide and 1.5 meters high.

Lucero said that it is a good thing that the portion that collapsed is an open area so no houses were affected.

For the meantime, Lucero said, the officials of barangay Lahug temporarily fenced in the area to prevent people, especially children from falling into the hole.

“Ordinary koral ra man to ilang gibutang, among gi-suggest na tukuran og permanent na fence, if possible, i-barbwire para wala na gyud makaduol. Then pabutangan og filling sa ilawom para dili na sya mo-cave-in,” Lucero said.

Cebu City mayor-elect Michael Rama said that they will not wait for MGB’s recommendation but he will order his people to evacuate the residents if there is imminent danger.

“If there is a requirement of having to attend to it seriously and if it would include getting people out, then that should be addressed,” Rama said.

There were reports, however, that officials of the barangays are having some reservations asking for assistance from the City Hall due to the ongoing conflict between Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann delos Santos.

“They are citizens of the city. We should always announce that we don’t talk about politics when we are saving lives,” Rama said. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/BRP (FREEMAN NEWS)