were killed in a landslide in Compostela Valley province at dawn
Thursday, a local official confirmed. Around 100 more residents are
feared to have been buried by the landslide.
Village leader Paciano Banuelos Jr. initially reported the landslide
took place in Purok Diat Uno, Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan town at 3:45
a.m., killing 16 residents.
"Bandang 4 a.m., may nagreport na may nangyaring landslide...
Initially may report sa amin na may narecover na 6 na sa Diat Uno,
then may sampu sa Diat Dos. Ang pagkasabi may higit 100 posibleng
natabunan sa pagguho," Police Senior Inspector Werenfredo Reidor told
Umagang Kay Ganda.
Reidor said residents have long been advised to vacate the place
because of mining activities in the area, but they refused to leave.
The residents in the area are mostly families of miners.
"Matagal na sila pinapaalis sa area kasi meron nang malaking leak sa
taas ng bundok, pero nagmamatigas pa rin yun mga residente doon," he
said.
However, Reidor said the area did not experience heavy rains overnight.
"Sa ngayon wala pong ulan dito, kaya lang medyo maambon, pero dun sa
area na pinangyarihan ng landslide, wala rin pong ulan," Reidor added.
Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy, meanwhile, said there has been a
ban on mining activities in the area affected by the landslide, but
some miners may have returned to search for gold.
Uy said he will order a forced evacuation for residents living in
similar high-risk areas in the province.
Search and retrieval operations continue for the missing residents.
The damage from the incident has yet to be assessed. - with ANC
