Landslide strikes Davao's upland brgy, 1 dead

A landslide struck a small sitio in the hinterland barangay of Marilog district in Davao City.

According to initial reports from the Office of Civil Defense Region XI, a landslide occurred at around 2:06 a.m. in Sitio Ladian, in Barangay Marilog within the district of the same name. The tragedy occurred as a result of the intermittent heavy rains in the area for the past few days.

An 11-year old girl died on the spot when their residential house was totally destroyed by the landslide. The name of the girl has not yet been made available. Another person has been listed as missing and about nine houses have been destroyed by the landslide.

According to Lt. Colonel Gabriel Viray of the 84th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, three of the nine destroyed houses belonged to CAFGU (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit) personnel in the area.

Currently, an Urban Search and Rescue Team coming from Davao City's Central 911, in coordination with the community residents and the 84th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, is conducting retrieval operations.

The Davao-Bukidnon highway was not affected by the landslide.

In a geo-hazard mapping conducted last year, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau or MGB identified Barangays Marilog and Magsaysay to have landslide-prone sitios. — ARA