3 dead in Southern Leyte landslide

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Three workers were buried alive in a landslide in Pintuyan, Southern Leyte on Friday.

Ruben Guibao, 20; Adelberto Gales Jr., 35, and Joel Maique, 43, were declared dead on arrival at the municipal health center, according to Lt. Omar Bagasbas, Pintuyan police officer-in-charge.

Bagasbas said initial investigation showed the victims were quarrying near a river that has dried up when the landslide occurred.

“They were digging below the slope. Heavy rains in the past several days could have caused the ground to soften,” he said.