Bodies of 2 missing workers found

KANANGA, LEYTE, Philippines  â€“ The body of two of the nine missing workers was retrieved from the landslide site at Pad 403 of Energy Development Corporation’s Upper Mahiao Plant in Brgy. Lim-ao, Kananga, Leyte at around 5:40 p.m. of Sunday (March 3).

The discovery of the bodies, one of whom was still unidentified while the other was that of Marlon Buanghug, a native of this town, reduced to seven the number of still missing workers believed buried in the rubble, but raised the number of confirmed fatalities to seven.

The first five confirmed dead were Bonifacio Polinio, Edgardo Cabarsi Sr., Billy Abella, Joel Milay and Etchield dela Austria. Still missing as of today are Abelardo Permanghel, Uldarico Taboranza, Salvador Yabana, Salcedo Jorden, Romeo Yazar, Salvador Lascanas Jr., Alfredo Arabes and Danilo Mabuti

The victims were all workers of JA Construction owned by Engr. Javier Arradaza, a subcontractor of First Balfour, which was commissioned by EDC to fortify pipelines in the area to avert an eminent landslide from occurring.

There were 45 people working at the site when the landslide happened at around late morning of March 1. At least 31 workers were immediately rescued to survive the incident and eight of them were confined at different hospitals.

In the latest update, all have been discharged from the hospital except for one, Giovanni Perez, 31, who had to be confined further at the OSPA-Farmers Medical Center in Ormoc City due to more serious injuries.

Most of those hospitalized suffered fractures on their lower extremities, while others from the inhalation of sulfuric fumes and dust. Confined at the Gatchalian Hospital were Ronelo Basan, 24; Romeo Binondo Jr., 32, Edgar Brigildo, 35; Mario Sergida, 22; Alimar Aseo, 19; Joebert Auman, 20, and Ramirito Manawatao, 40.

Treated for less serious injuries at the same hospital were Roldan Rios, 28 and Bennie Leutero, 21. The remaining 21 were treated for minor abrasions and cuts at the company clinic.

Senior vice president Alberto Ignacio Jr. of First Balfour, in a press conference Saturday, said the workers were fortifying a critical area from a possible landslide when it happened. He added that, together with EDC, they have already met with the families of the casualties and the injured and extended them financial assistance. First Balfour even been offered employment to one of the widows, Dave Devilles, corporate communications officer said.

The emergency response team (ERT) was only allowed to resume search and retrieval operations at 1:00 PM of Saturday, 24 hours after the tragedy, because the area had to be cleared of dangerous debris and risk factors as it might also endanger them.

Devilles said that “the crown of the slope where the land fell had to be cleared before the emergency response team (ERT) can go in again”, to avoid endangering their lives. About 20 trees were cut down at the crown to make sure they won’t come toppling down.

He also relayed the assurance of Ignacio that the search and retrieval operations will not stop until all bodies are found, belying rumors that it would be stopped today, whether all bodies are found or not.

Rios and Leutero told this reporter that around noon, pandemonium broke out when the area just went dark and they started choking, presumably from the dust and sulfuric steam that escaped from the pipelines. They ran in different directions.

The EDC said the landslide happened after two weeks of rain which apparently loosened up the soil where work was going on to resolve the already identified critical area. When the landslide happened, the sun was up and shining bright. A survivor said it had been sunny in the area for two days already.  (FREEMAN)