4 persons die in Ifugao landslide

by Mari Cruz  |  PIA.gov.ph

 

BAGUIO CITY, July 28 (PIA) - - Tropical storm “Juaning “ left four casualties in the region including two policemen who were buried alive in a landslide while trying to help move a vehicle stuck in mud in Ifugao province late Wednesday.

 

 

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Cordillera regional director Olive Luces said that the incident occurred at barangay Nailagan, Aguinaldo at about 4:00 p.m. of July 27.

 

 

She identified the two policemen as SPO2 Jeff Domingo and SPO2 Ricky Agwit, both assigned at the Aguinaldo Municipal Police Station.

 

 

According to Luces, a service vehicle of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was stuck in the mud when the two policemen tried to help; a landslide occurred, burying alive the two policemen.

 

 

Retrieval operations were halted Wednesday night due to the threat of more landslides in the area. Luces informed that based on reports gathered this morning, aside from the two policemen, bodies of two civilians were also retrieved. They were identified as Bo-oy Machingi and Dino Nabban.

 

 

Meanwhile, based from the latest monitoring report from the Department of Public Works on Highways (DPWH) on road condition, Baguio-Bontoc Road Gonogon section which was closed yesterday due to boulder slide, is now opened but the section is still a “close-open” situation.

 

 

Clearing operations of slides are going at the Mt. Province-Nueva Vizcaya Road, Junction Talubin-Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis-Calaocad Road, Mt. Province-Cagayan via Tabuk Enrile Road, Banaue- Mayoyao-Aguinaldo-Isabela Bdry. Rd., Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet Bdry. Rd., Itogon-Dalupirip Road, and Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun Road.

 

The DPWH also sent equipments to start backfilling works on the Balbalan – Pinukpuk RoadApatan section which is also closed to traffic due to sinking of 32m stretch of road base 1.5 m below original road.

 

On dam status, the Binga dam opened six gates with 1.5 m, while Ambuklao dam still has not opened any.

 

 

Luces likewise reported that one house was totally damaged covered by landslide at Barangay Antipolo, Asipulo Ifugao with one family affected; seven persons were evacuated to a neighbor’s house. One house was also partially damaged due to landslides at Barangay Luta, Lagawe, Ifugao. *(JDP/MC- PIA CAR)