Death toll in Davao de Oro landslide now 10

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll from a landslide that hit a mining area in Monkayo, Davao de Oro has risen to 10.

Rescuers recovered the bodies as rains continued to affect the area yesterday.

In a post on the Facebook page of the Monkayo municipal government, five of the fatalities were identified as Catherine, 27; Hannah, 9;  Dysna, 3; Arjay, 1, and Cristelle, 10, all surnamed Gumatin.

The bodies of Marjomie Nenaria, 33; Richell Reboldad, 35; Agnes Bitoon, 44, and Elvera Sadua, 45, were also recovered.

A report on GMANews said the victims were attending a prayer worship at a house in Purok 19 in Barangay Mt. Diwata when the ground collapsed.

A one-year-old girl remains missing.

A landslide was also reported in Davao City amid continuous rain on Thursday night, leaving two persons dead.

The bodies of Jehron Manay, 7, and Ernesto Pacinio, 43, were recovered in Sitio Kalachuci in Barangay Salaysay, Marilog district and Purok 5, Tigatto, respectively.

Meanwhile, the number of families affected by flooding in Davao and Caraga has ballooned to 70,862 or 270,206 people, according to the Office of Civil Defense.

The OCD said 4,217 families or 14,921 people remained in various evacuation centers yesterday.

Davao and Caraga have been experiencing continous rain since Monday due to the shear line or meeting of hot and cold air.

State of calamity

Several towns in Davao declared a state of calamity due to massive flooding in their areas.

The affected areas were Tagum City, Governor Dujali, Carmen, Asuncion and Laak in Davao del Norte; Governor Generoso, Tarragona, Bagangan, Lupon, Cateel and Mati in Davao Oriental; and Monkayo, New Bataan, Montevista and Nabunturan in Davao de Oro.

The OCD said family food packs and other basic necessities worth P6.4 million have been provided to affected residents.

The House of Representatives said P35 million in financial aid would be provided to victims of flooding and landslides in Davao.

The aid includes 17,500 food packs being facilitated by the offices of Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez. — Diana Lhyd Suelto, Sheila Crisostomo