Heavy downpour triggers landslide, flooding

The heavy downpour yesterday afternoon caused a landslide that trapped two persons in Cebu City and a flooding that forced at least 15 families to evacuate their houses in Liloan town.

In sitio Sudlon, Lahug in Cebu City, Rolando Alfonso, 23, and his sister-in-law Marivic, 29, were fortunate to evade death after a massive chunk of mud and toppled bamboos covered their rented house at the side of the hill just beside the Sudlon Bridge.

Marivic’s children – six-year-old Jemar and one-year-old Jasmin - were able to crawl out of the ruble but the two adults were trapped for at least an hour when the landslide occurred about 4:30 pm yesterday. Marivic’s husband, Ramil, a jeepney driver, was fixing his vehicle elsewhere when the incident happened.

Members of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation subsequently rescued the two victims who were fortunate enough to only sustain some cuts and bruises. The two were rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center early last night. Marivic is six months pregnant.

Edgardo Dueñas, a tanod of barangay Lahug, said the landslide occurred yesterday when both victims were inside the house. He said the damaged structure, a rear extension of the main house, may have easily given way to the weight of the soil and bamboos because it was only made out of light materials.

What made it more difficult for rescuers to immediately retrieve the victims was the location of the house, which stand exactly at hilly bank of the Sudlon River. Many residents have built their houses in the bank and Dueñas said it was a blessing that no other structure was badly affected.

Tanods were stationed overnight in the area upon instruction of Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann delos Santos.

Dueñas said Alfonso’s family will temporarily stay at their neighbors’ house but strict instructions were given not to let anyone go near the landslide area to avoid further accidents.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo, action officer of the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council, said residents within the three-meter easement have been advised to slowly transfer temporarily to avoid experiencing the same fate.

The city has given food assistance to the victims.

Carillo said he will recommend to Mayor Tomas Osmeña that the families in the area, about 150 of them, will be advised to relocate because the area is already considered a danger zone.

Meanwhile, at least 15 families were evacuated from barangays Yati and San Vicente in Liloan town after heavy rains caused flooding in the two barangays. The families are temporarily housed at the Yati Elementary School.

As of last night, Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco said the barangay captains of Yati and San Vicente have assured him that the water has already subsided. Frasco said they will be assessing the drainage in the areas to determine why they were not able to sustain the rainwater.

Personnel from the town’s police, fire, and health offices last night combed the two barangays to monitor the peace and order situation and address any possible health hazards and health problems that may arise. -  Joeberth M. Ocao and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM