LEGAZPI CITY ,Philippines – A search and recovery team of the Albay Mercy Mission has recovered the body of another earthquake victim in Guinhulngan City Sunday morning, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said yesterday.
The victim was identified as Asor Mahinay, 78, of Barangay Planas.
Sixteen persons remain missing in Guinhulngan City, following the 6.9 earthquake that hit Negros Oriental on Feb. 6.
Salceda organized a 14-man search and retrieval team after seeing a video footage of the rescuers using their bare hands and shovel to dig through the rubble.
Team leaders Acer Manlo of the Air Force and Glen Rodriguez of the Bureau of Fire said they are equipped with thermal cameras, snake cameras, life locator, spreader cutters, hard hats with search light, flood lights, spine board, ropes, telescopes and global positioning system from the Office of Civil Defense, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The team was instrumental for the rescue of survivors and the recovery of bodies when super typhoon “Reming” devastated Albay on Nov. 31, 2006.
The Albay Mercy Mission also has its medical, psychosocial and water and sanitation teams.
The team and its equipment is based at the port of Guinhulgan City.
Salceda said the Albay Mercy Mission left last Feb. 8 and will be returning to Albay on Feb. 17 or 18.