Davao de Oro landslide death toll now 11

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll from a landslide in Barangay Masara in Maco, Davao de Oro on Wednesday increased to 11 after four more bodies were recovered yesterday.

The Maco municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDRRMO) said the number of missing people has increased to 110 while 31 were injured.

At least 1,166 families remain in evacuation centers in Maco and Mawab.

Members of the Maco MDRRMO, Bureau of Fire Protection, 25th Infantry Battalion, Davao del Norte 911, Philippine Coast Guard and Apex Mining rescue teams are conducting search, rescue and retrieval operations.

The landslide hit a terminal for vehicles servicing employees and service providers of Apex Mining Inc., a barangay hall and houses in Zone 1.

Two buses, which were carrying mine workers waiting to be transported to their homes, were buried in the landslide.

The Maco local government unit said it is still validating the list of the fatalities.

It has yet to be determined if mine workers or villagers were among the dead and the missing.

The landslide was triggered by continuous heavy rainfall spawned by the shear line and the trough of a low-pressure area.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said it has yet to receive reports on the total number of deaths and the other casualties. –  Rainier Allan Ronda