Coast Guard: 21 bodies recovered in Albay, CamSur landslides

ALBAY, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Bicol reported that search and rescue teams have recovered a total of 21 bodies in landslides in Albay and Camarines Sur.

PCG-Bicol said in a report Sunday night, December 30, that 11 bodies were recovered in Tiwi, Albay, and 10 in Nato, Camarines Sur.

It added that 25 persons have been rescued so far from landslides in the two towns – 20 in Tiwi 5 in Nato.  (READ: 3 Bicol provinces under state of calamity due to Usman)

A total of 2,180 persons have been rescued from raging floodwaters in Vinzon, Camarines Norte, said PCG-Bicol. In Camarines Sur, they also rescued 5 in Nabua and 20 in Iriga City.

Rescue operations were still ongoing as of Sunday night in the Camarines Sur towns of Baao and Buhi. 

The PCG-Bicol has deployed a total of 63 personnel with 8 aluminum boats, 2 rubber boats and 3 vehicles in the continuing rescue efforts. (LOOK:  Heavy rain due to Usman floods Libon town)

Family buried in landslide

Seven out of the 9 missing individuals in Barangay Sugod in Tiwi were found dead on Sunday, December 30, by search and rescue teams.

The 7 bodies were retrieved Sunday in an operation which began Saturday evening, December 29, after a landslide buried 6 homes due to heavy rains spawned by the low pressure area which used to be Tropical Depression Usman  and the tail-end of a cold front.

Among those identified dead were the family of 30-year-old Nimrod Bobis Jr, along with his children Mark Angelo, 15, and Niña Angeline, a 6-year-old gymnast champion.

Eleven-year-old Charles Gabriel Ignacio, who had been living with the family, was also found dead.

The bodies of Rita Dacillo-Cimacosa, 52; and Mylene Dacuno, 10, were also retrieved. The two were neighbors of Nimrod and were at his house at the time the landslide happened.

Another dead body belonged to 42-year-old Ronnie Clerigo, whose house alongside the road was destroyed and reduced into debris, with his body buried in the mud.

The 79-year-old father of Rita Dacillo-Cimacosa and another neighbor named Arnel Bragais are still missing.

Spared from the landslide

The family of Sonny Credo, whose house was along the path of the landslide, was spared from the fatal incident. He, his wife, and their two daughters left their home, located at the upper mountain area along Nimrod’s house.

“Mga 5 minutes lang bago makaalis ang pamilya Credo saka nangyari ang landslide,” a resident who knows the Credo family relayed. (The landslide occurred 5 minutes after the family left their home.)

The home of overseas Filipino worker Renato Cope along the road was also destroyed.

“Matagal na akong hindi nakatira dyan sa bahay ko. Umuupa ako sa kalapit na barangay kapag umuuwi ako galing abroad,” he said. (I no longer live in my house [here in Sugod]. I am staying in a rental house in a nearby barangay every time I vacation from abroad.)

“Pero noong dyan pa ako nakatira, ni hindi namin naranasan ang ganito,” he added. (However, we have never experienced this before when I was still living in that house.)

The wife of Nimrod is the family’s lone survivor. – Rappler.com