Landslide kills carpenter

CEBU, Philippines — A 41-year-old carpenter was killed in a landslide at Sitio GMA in Barangay Apas, Cebu City following a heavy downpour yesterday afternoon.

Joel Brobo, a native of Barangay Ilihan in Tabogon town, northern Cebu, had no more pulse when he was retrieved from the rubble by a group of rescuers one and 40 minutes after the incident.

Nagiel Bañacia, head of Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said Brobo was preparing to leave for his hometown when the soil near a riprap structure in the area fell and trapped him.

It did not help that the landslide bore rocks that caused further injuries on the victim.

Bañacia said rescuers attempted to revive Brobo at the landslide area but failed.

Despite not having vital signs, the victim was still rushed to the hospital.

Bañacia reiterated his call to those living in landslide-prone areas never to take chances and to immediately vacate their places during intense rain. —/JMD (FREEMAN)