Compostela death toll rises to 20

The death toll from the two landslides in Barangay Poblacion Masara in Maco town in Compostela Valley over the weekend rose to 20, with 29 injured and 19 others missing, Maco town, disaster officials said yesterday.

Antonio Cloma Jr., operations officer of the Office of Civil Defense in Region XI said in a phone interview that their personnel and volunteers have recovered four more unidentified bodies yesterday morning.

Cloma said that their operatives are having difficulties searching for those that might have been buried in the thick mud because rains could cause another landslide, endangering the rescuers.

As of the latest update, 350 families have already been evacuated from the area, which, according to Mazo has been classified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as susceptible to such hazards.

The two landslides that happened on Saturday and Sunday were brought about by three days of continuous heavy downpours in the said town.

Rescuers recovered the other day the body of Poblacion Masara barangay captain Jovencio Anquera, who was among those initially reported missing.

The other fatalities were identified as Esteban Mahilit, 59; Maria Christine Labor, four; her sister Ma. Theresa, one; their mother Rose Marie, 28; Harold Sanchez, 53; Aaron Christy Fernando, nine; Lourdesito Magnanao; Edelyn Cellano, eight; Fedecia Herasta; Eugene Perales, 17; Elmer Mesa; Ruben Sulapaz and Norma Sulapaz.

There were 45 houses that were totally destroyed by the landslides.

Rescue workers from the military, disaster agencies and civilian volunteers from Apex Mining Corp. are still in the area to conduct search and rescue operations for the victims.