Many more feared buried after mud engulfs panhandlers' community
Compostela Valley, where landslides have killed at least 26 people
At least 25 people were killed and more than 100 are missing after a landslide engulfed a small mining village in the south of the country today, according to officials.
Benito Ramos, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said heavy rain or a predawn quake were possible causes of the landslide in Pantukan village in Compostela Valley province.
“There are reports of a quake rocking Davao Oriental, which is near Compostela Valley,” he said.
“The quake, although relatively weak, intensity 3, may have affected the ground already saturated by rain,” he said.
“A military unit is in the area but they are basically digging with their hands,” he added.
Father Reynaldo Biliran from Tagum diocese said people had been warned by the government to leave the area because the land had become unstable, but they refused to budge because they were mining for gold.
“The Church has not been remiss in reminding them of the danger of mining, but you can’t really blame these poor people for staying there. It’s their livelihood,” he said.
Today’s landslide occurred about two kilometers from the scene of another landslide in April last year, which killed more than a dozen people, and one in 2009 that killed 26 people.
Acting on the advice of government geologists, local officials ordered the evacuation of all Pantukan gold rush areas after the April landslide last year.
Soldiers were already in the area but search and rescue operations are being hampered because of the rugged terrain in the area, according to a government spokesman.
“I have spoken to [Environment] Secretary Ramon Paje; he has sent four geologists, a geological assessment team, to help in the search and rescue,” Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing at the president’s palace.
He criticized the provincial government for not conducting mandatory evacuations despite orders to do so from Manila.
“This is totally unacceptable. There will be an investigation and there will be accountability,” he said.
Benito Ramos, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said heavy rain or a predawn quake were possible causes of the landslide in Pantukan village in Compostela Valley province.
“There are reports of a quake rocking Davao Oriental, which is near Compostela Valley,” he said.
“The quake, although relatively weak, intensity 3, may have affected the ground already saturated by rain,” he said.
“A military unit is in the area but they are basically digging with their hands,” he added.
Father Reynaldo Biliran from Tagum diocese said people had been warned by the government to leave the area because the land had become unstable, but they refused to budge because they were mining for gold.
“The Church has not been remiss in reminding them of the danger of mining, but you can’t really blame these poor people for staying there. It’s their livelihood,” he said.
Today’s landslide occurred about two kilometers from the scene of another landslide in April last year, which killed more than a dozen people, and one in 2009 that killed 26 people.
Acting on the advice of government geologists, local officials ordered the evacuation of all Pantukan gold rush areas after the April landslide last year.
Soldiers were already in the area but search and rescue operations are being hampered because of the rugged terrain in the area, according to a government spokesman.
“I have spoken to [Environment] Secretary Ramon Paje; he has sent four geologists, a geological assessment team, to help in the search and rescue,” Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing at the president’s palace.
He criticized the provincial government for not conducting mandatory evacuations despite orders to do so from Manila.
“This is totally unacceptable. There will be an investigation and there will be accountability,” he said.
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