Eight killed in Ifugao landslide

By Ronron
September 30, 2007

Eight people, including children, were buried dead while one went missing following a landslide that hit the northern Philippine province of Ifugao on Saturday evening due to rains brought by tropical depression “Hanna.”

According to the report of the Cordillera Region Office of Civil Defense (OCD), one person was also wounded in the same incident that happened at around 10 pm in Barangay Upper Pitawan, Hingyon town.

OCD Regional Director Elvira Calina identified the fatalities in its 2pm report yesterday as Erma Hiadan, 50; Ruby Manwong, 6; Megan Manwong, 4; Johani Manwong, 2; Julia Linglingon, 52; Hiadan Cupilyo, 80; Joel Linglingon, 27; and, Rommel Linglingon, 30; while the missing victim is Henry Linglingon, 55.

Calina said the wounded victim is Denver Bogbog, 9, who was immediately brought to the Ifugao Provincial Hospital for medical treatment.

Calina said the victims were inside two houses when the heavy rains caused the nearby hill to collapse, bringing mixed soil and rocks over it.

“The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council of Ifugao is conducting the search and rescue or retrieval operation for the one missing person… Immediate financial assistance for the victims will be recommended to the Ifugao Provincial Council,” Calina said.

The landslide caused the closure of traffic along the Hingyon-Banaue Road, Calina said.

Calina disclosed that earlier on Saturday afternoon, a landslide was also reported in Barangay Ginaang in Pasil, Kalinga, affecting 350 families or 2,100 persons. Fortunately, there were no casualties or evacuees reported after the incident despite the partial wreckage of three houses.

What were severely damaged, however, were farm-to-market roads, pathways, and roads in different parts of Pasil, totaling to about P10 million.

Calina said two irrigation systems in the province, particularly in Lubuagan town, were also destroyed – the Wa-it Communal Irrigation, which was totally damaged worth about P100,000, and the Tab-taba Communal Irrigation, which was partially damaged with estimated cost of P80,000.

Authorities are also closely monitoring the water levels at the Binga, Ambuklao and San Roque dams to prevent an overspill that may cause further damage in low-lying areas. As of 1pm yesterday, one gate each was opened at the Binga and Ambuklao Dams since water level was already approaching critical levels.

“Hanna” entered the Philippine area of responsibility before the weekend and was already reported to have crossed over to Vietnam by Sunday. But it continues to cause rains in parts of Luzon and the Visayas because of the enhanced southwest monsoon./DMS