Landslide death toll climbs to 98; 9 missing

MANILA, Philippines — More bodies buried in a landslide in Maco, Davao de Oro have been recovered, bringing the death toll to 98.

At a press briefing livestreamed on Facebook, Lea Añora of the management of the dead and missing unit of the municipal government said 88 bodies and 10 body parts have been recovered as of noon yesterday.

Añora said 79 bodies have been identified, adding that 65 death certificates have been issued.

She said nine remain missing, among them  workers who were supposed to be transported home on two buses when the landslide occurred.

Two buses, some houses and a barangay hall were buried in the landslide in Barangay Masara on Feb. 6.

The Maco municipal disaster risk reduction and management council said 1,503 families were affected by the landslide.

The Davao de Oro provincial veterinary office said it has rescued 23 dogs and 27 cats left by affected villagers when they were evacuated.

The rescued animals are being housed at an impound area in Mawab town.

P1 billion agricultural damage

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said damage to agriculture due to the northeast monsoon and trough of a low-pressure area in Caraga and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has reached more than P1 billion.

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the NDRRMC said 19,0171 farmers and fisherfolk were affected.

The NDRRMC said P7.4 million worth of livestock, poultry and fisheries were damaged.

At least 457,736 families or 1,530,144 people were affected, 59,310 of them preemptively evacuated.

At least 290,000 people were displaced. The government set up 76 evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC said that 193 infrastructure facilities worth P827 million were damaged in Caraga, Davao and BARMM.