Number of Victims In Mindanao-Philippines Landslide Reach 54 Death and 63 Still Missing

Author: Dian Kencana
February 13, 2024

Responders conduct search and rescue operations in Maco, Davao de Oro. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines' Eastern Mindanao Command

SEAToday.com, Mindanao-The number of people killed by a landslide in Mindanao, southern Philippines has risen to 54 as rescue workers dug more bodies from the mud. On February 6, at night, a heavy landslide hit a series of buses carrying workers returning home from working at the mine.

Two buses were reportedly buried alive by mud while 11 people who took the initiative to jump suffered minor injuries.

The search process is difficult due to unstable ground and potential landslides, making victims' relatives lose hope. "We think it's impossible that anyone survived. We haven't been to the area, but we think they were buried deep from what we saw online,” said one of the victim’s relatives, Chelrene Apolonario. However, they remain hopeful that the bodies of their family members can be recovered, even if not alive.

Colonel Gerry Besana, The Rescue Operations Chef said the obstacle for the rescue team is the debris, "Chunks of debris falling and it can lead to more debris falling. So that was our limitations." (LALA/ALVIN)