BENGUET, Philippines – Authorities ordered a forced evacuation of ground zero in Barangay Ucab in the municipality of Itogon due to potential landslides as rains begin to drench the already muddy slope.
On Friday, September 21, the emergency team was able to bring down heavy equipment and additional K-9 units to speed up the rescue and retrieval operations.
However, rescuers and volunteers were ordered to immediately vacate the site as recommended by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to limit the number of people in the area in view of another landslide due to continuous downpour.
“We will advise them to get out. Natuto na tayo. Kaya nga nagkaroon ng ganito na hindi sila nakikinig sa advise. But now, meron nang sinabi ang MGB (Mines & Geosciences Bureau) na active ang mga landslide na nakapaligid sa atin. So only the authorized number of people na sinabi ko na mga 30 at siyempre merong PNP dito na magbabantay na wala nang makakapasok dito,” Regional Director Ruben Carandang of the Office of the Civil Defense said.
The local government will order a forced evacuation of residents in surrounding areas of ground zero and only miners as well as workers of volunteer mining companies will be allowed on site.
Heavy equipment such as the four backhoes will remain on the ground to fast-track the excavation works.
As of this writing, authorities were able to recover 29 bodies from the landslide areas while 40 more persons remained missing. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Nel Maribojoc)
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