Landslide hits mining site in the southern Philippines, killing 25

Landslide hits mining site in the southern Philippines, killing 25

2012-01-07 03:48:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- A rain-triggered landslide at a gold mining site in the southern Philippines has left at least 25 people killed and several others missing, emergency officials confirmed on Friday.

The landslide happened at around 3 a.m. local time at a hilly portion of Sitio Diat 1 to 700 Gold Panning Area and Diat 2 Panning Area in Barangay Napnapan Pantukan, which is located in the province of Compostela Valley on Mindanao.

The landslide followed continuous rain during the past few days and swept away several houses made of light material where miners reside. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 25 bodies had been recovered as of Friday evening.

"The 17 dead were brought to Saint Theresa Funeral Homes in Mabini," said NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos. "One [other body] was brought to her house in San Isidro and two [other] dead bodies are still at the landslide areas."

Emergency officials initially reported that more than 150 people were still missing, but Ramos revised that figure down to 5 on Friday. "RDRRMC/OCD Region XI team conducted damage and needs assessment in the area to assess the extent of damages and validate the actual number of casualties," he said.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the military was quickly sent to the scene and has been conducting search and rescue operations with the help of the regional NDRRMC, as well as local police forces and a group of volunteers that include small scale miners.

In addition to the fatalities and missing persons, a total of sixteen people were reported injured.

Landslides are not uncommon during the rainy season in the Philippines. As many as 23 people were killed in April 2011 when a landslide occurred in the same area.

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