By Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu
KANANGA, Leyte, March 2 (PIA) — Five workers were confirmed dead while nine others remain missing after they were buried when a landslide occurred at the vicinity of the road leading to PAD 403 of the EDC Complex at Sitio Upper Mahiao, Barangay Lim-ao, Kananga, Leyte.
Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Chairman Rey Gozon, who immediately rushed to the scene of the accident, said the construction workers of First Balfur/Aradaza Corporation were working on a riprap or slope protection project when at 9:50 a.m. on March 1, a portion of the mountain eroded burying the 45 workers.
He said the military in the area led by Lt. Colonel Nacnac and Colonel Valencia, the Ormoc City rescue team and the EDC rescue team immediately started a search and rescue operations.
The RDRRMC immediately conducted Damage Analysis and Needs Assessment in the area, Director Gozon said. He added that he coordinated with Kananga Mayor Elmer Codilla for the needs of the landslide victims and their families.
Thirty one of the workers were rescued, 21 of whom were treated at the EDC Clinic, 8 were brought to the hospitals; 9 remain missing and 5 are dead.
Mayor Codilla in a phone interview said that the rescue operations were stopped at 5:30 p.m. yesterday because it was raining and getting dark in the area.
He identified the fatalities as Joel Milay; Bonifacio Polinio; Billy Avilla; Edgardo Cabarsi, Sr. and Etchild dela Cerna. He added that as of l 8:30 p.m. yesterday, the families of the fatalities were already being notified. This was later confirmed by Dave Devilles, corporate communications officer of EDC in a text message.
Mr. Devilles identified the 9 missing workers as Abelardo Permangel, Marlon Buanghog, Uldarico Taboranza, Salvador Yabana, Jordan Salcedo, Romeo Yasar, Salvador Lascanas Jr., Alfredo Arabes and Danilo Mabuti.
It was learned that there has been intermittent rains in the landslide area in the past few days which could have accounted for the loosening of the soil, Mayor Codilla said.
Mr. Devillas, on the other hand, said weather up in the site is different from the City weather due to the high altitude of the Upper Mahiao area. Rescued operations will resume early today. (PIA8)
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