SIX BODIES were recovered following a landslide that buried two company buses in a mining village in Barangay Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro as of 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to the Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) of Maco, they also recovered 31 individuals as of 2 p.m..
Currently, 46 individuals are still believed to be missing while 758 families are taking shelter at the evacuation center.
On Tuesday, Feb. 6, 11 individuals were injured while one was in critical condition after a landslide hit at Barangay Masara, Maco burying two buses and reportedly one passenger jeepney around 8 p.m.
The 11 injured were brought to the nearest hospitals including one critically injured and referred to a hospital in Tagum City.
APEX Mining statement
In a statement, APEX Mining claimed the landslide area was outside the actual mining site.
“However, the said area is where the buses that ferry the employees of the mining company wait for its passengers. Apex Mining is currently working on tracing the whereabouts of the buses dispatched to ferry the outgoing employees.”
The publicly listed company also said it is closely coordinating with the local government “both in taking the injured to hospitals and evacuating affected residents
to the Mawab Gym, the evacuation center for the residents of Mainit.”
“Rescue work is hampered by limited visibility and intermittent slides,” it said.
Incidence command post
Cong. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga and Mayor Arthur Carlos Voltaire Rimando went to the incident command post (ICP) in Barangay Elizalde, Maco to discuss objectives and priorities with the MDRRMO personnel, local officials, and other authorities.
At approximately 00:15 a.m., the rescue operation was halted under the direction of Congressman Gonzaga, acting as incident post commander, due to hazardous conditions and the deteriorating situation on the ground. Efforts continue to locate and rescue the remaining individuals as declared by Apex Mines.
The roads remain impassable and there is no cellphone signal in the area. Emergency communication teams from the 1001st Infantry Brigade and the 10th Infantry Division were deployed to help establish radio contact.
The 25th Infantry Battalion established a tactical command post at Tagbaros Patrol Base while the 1001st Brigade is coordinating efforts at the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) and the Provincial Incident Command Post, providing leadership assistance in disaster management.
Rescue teams from 10ID, 1001st Brigade, 25IB, and 60IB are on standby in various locations near the incident site.
A total of 14 military vehicles have been mobilized to support rescue operations, alongside other vehicles from various organizations and agencies while sufficient heavy equipment from Apex Mines is on standby, awaiting the optimal conditions to resume clearing operations.
Operations are expected to resume at daybreak with the deployment of rescue and retrieval teams.
Helicopters will be deployed for the air evacuation of the three critically injured victims.
EastMinCom commander LtGen Greg T. Almerol committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals affected by this tragic event.
