Mud collapse buries worker

CEBU, Philippines - A 52-year-old worker was nearly killed after he was almost buried alive by collapsed mud while he was constructing a concrete wall inside a private compound in Barangay Quiot, Cebu City past noon yesterday.

Only half of Cyril Mahinay’s body was visible when Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office personnel rushed to Genis Compound after received the report.

“Naabtan pa g’yud namo ang mao nga tawo nga nalubong pa sa lapok ang katunga sa iyang lawas. Ang iyang mga kauban maoy naghinay-hinay sa pagkuyokoy sa lapok aron siya maugkat,” said Alvin Santillana, LDRRCO operations chief. 

 It took hours before Mahinay was extricated and rushed to a hospital, where he is currently confined for bruises in different parts of his body.

Santillana said Mahinay and some other companions carved up a portion of a slope inside the compound for them to construct a concrete wall to serve as boundary with an adjacent property.

It is believed that rain that started Wednesday night and continued well into yesterday soaked up the freshly disturbed soil, causing it to loosen and collapse.

Mahinay remained conscious during the rescue and when he was brought to the hospital for treatment.

The same heavy downpour also prompted Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III to suspend classes in all levels of all public schools in the province.

Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella likewise declared a suspension of classes in elementary and secondary levels in public schools due to the bad weather.

Davide said he ordered the suspension of classes upon the advise of Visayas weather bureau Chief Oscar Tabada.

Despite the governor’s order, however,  the  Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) received reports that some schools still conducted classes even with the pouring rain.

Wilson Ramos, PDRRMO executive officer, said  suspension  of  classes in private schools was made upon the discretion of the administration.

On the other hand, PDRRMO Information Officer Julius Regner said they also received a report that an acacia tree toppled down in Talisay City. The report, though, could not yet be confirmed as of press time yesterday.

Regner added that updates and advisories were sent to the public and local government units yesterday through the help of Smart Communications Incorporated’s Infoboard service, which provides general information, advisories and announcements to pre-registered SMART subscribers.

As of last night, the PDRRMO has yet to receive reports on casualties and injuries resulting from yesterday’s heavy downpour.

In Cebu City, Santillana said flooding yesterday was manageable compared to the September 19 incident. The Cebu City Command Center has been issuing advisories to update the barangays on the situation.

“Ingon man gud ang Pagasa nga the rain will persist until afternoon, so better nga proactive ta kaysa sa reactive, para pud sa safety sa atong students,” Santillana said.

He said the rain also caused a landslide that led a house and a chapel to drift along the river in Barangay Calamba. However, there were no injuries and fatalities recorded.

Department of Education Cebu City Division Superintendent Rhea Mar Angtud said that there would be remedial classes because there were many suspensions of classes this school year.

“Duna gyo’y epekto ang suspension pero necessary pud gyud for the safety sa mga bata. Ang night gyud ang naapektohan og maayo kay magklase man sila og Sunday to cope with the days nga walay klase kay duna man pud sila’y regular class during Saturdays,” she said. (FREEMAN)