Landslide kills 8 at Diwalwal

DAVAO CITY — Eight people, mostly children, were killed and 11 others were injured in a landslide that struck a residential area at the gold-rush site at Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo, Compostela Valley last Thursday night.

Officials said the landslide occurred at 11 p.m. at Purok 1-B at the resettlement area of the Monkayo Integrated Small-Scale Miners Association, sweeping through a number of shanties and a mosque.

The Office of Civil Defense identified the fatalities as Abubakar Sarik, Indayan Gapor, Reynaldo Lawag, 5; Ruby Glenn Lawag, 2; Ryan Lawag, 7; Rennalyn Lawag, 21; Rea Lawag, 15; and Mabel Muhamad, three months old.

Those injured were Michael Sultan, Elmer Sultan, Arab Mohamad Macod, Taid Unda, Sinunden Oman Papugiron, Mophammad Omar, Akmar Montalban, Olimaden Sultan, Arlinda Lawag, Jennalyn Petrobon and Renante Lawag Jr.

The victims were rushed to the Apokon Regional Hospital in Tagum City.

Barangay officials said heavy rains during the past three days could have triggered the landslide.

Rescuers were able to retrieve the remains of at least six of the fatalities. — Edith Regalado