Unidentified landslide victims buried in temporary graves

MANILA, Philippines — Seventeen unidentified fatalities in the rain-induced landslide in Maco, Davao de Oro have been buried in temporary graves.

The municipal government’s health office recommended the burial of the victims due to health and sanitation reasons.

The local government gave assurance that the bodies would be exhumed for identification by people with relatives missing in the landslide.

Over 70 bodies have been recovered from the landslide area.

Sixty people remain missing following the incident that buried two buses and several houses in Barangay Masara on Feb. 6.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing with the help of the military.

The US government gave P70 million worth of humanitarian assistance for the victims.