At least 7 dead, 4 missing in Banaue landslide

Seven bodies were recovered while 4 people remain missing a day after a landslide wiped out a bunkhouse in Banaue, Ifugao, on Thursday, November 12.

So far, there is one survivor who is in stable condition.

Among those who were initially missing were two engineers of the Ifugao 2nd District Engineering Office, John Limoh and Julius Gulayan Jr.

The others are either residents or bypassers who also sought shelter inside the concrete bunkhouse which was hit by the landslide.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar announced on Sunday, November 15, that Limoh and Gulayan had died. They were “buried in mud and boulders” after the landslide, according to Villar.

Albert Mogol, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Cordillera regional director, said on Friday, November 13, that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was conducting a clearing operation of a minor landslide in Sitio Nabito, Barangay Viewpoint in Banaue when it started to rain.

They sought shelter in the concrete bunkhouse of a contractor in the area. Six other people also took refuge in the bunkhouse to wait out the rain.

Mogol said that at about 5 pm on Thursday, a bigger landslide occurred and wiped out the bunkhouse.

DPWH maintenance personnel Jacob Guinyang survived the incident as he was checking on a loader away from the landslide site.

Rescuers were able to recover 7 bodies, so far. Four others are missing. Search, rescue, and retrieval operations are ongoing.

Two of the fatalities were later identified as DPWH driver Joel B. Chur-ig, 47; and DPWH maintenance crew Johnny M. Duccog, 57.

Villar condoled with the families of the victims and said the department will support their families. “Let us pray that those missing will be found,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ifugao emergency responders rescued 9 people in Sitio Bulao, Lamut, while 4 others were also rescued in Sitio Pugo, Barangay San Juan in Alfonso Lista town, following heavy rains brought by Typhoon Ulysses.

The OCD said that they recorded 39 road sections all over the region which are closed to traffic while 38 only have one lane passable.  – Rappler.com