Scavenger killed after being buried in dumpsite

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - For 36-year old scavenger Richard delos Reyes, missing a chance to earn the day’s meal for his family was rather a threat than the storm until the cascading boulders and landslide killed him in the hillside dumpsite of this city Tuesday at the height of storm Pablo.

Reyes’ family said they have forewarned the victim along with the rest of the scavengers scuffing through the dumpsite for plastics and other valuables in Barangay Lumbangan when huge portion of cliff’s wall collapsed following the incessant rains about 11:30 a.m.

Boulders and landslide came cascading, burying Reyes for hours while the rest of the scavengers scampered out from the dump for safety.

The local Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Council mechanical backhoe was immediately dispatched for rescue and recovered Reyes from the piles of rubbles that covered him.

 Police rushed the victim at the hospital but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

 Reyes’ grieving family said the victim and some of the scavengers were unmindful of the warning since there was only regular rain that day. 

“For us to earn daily was rather important to save the day,” said Melvin, the younger brother of the victim.

Meanwhile, the city agriculture reported an estimated P1.9-million worth of damages to agricultural and fishery properties due to flooding spawned by Pablo in Vitali district.

City agriculturist Diosdado Palacad said Vitali, known to be the city fishpond and agriculture area was the hardest hit by the flood last Tuesday.