(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — At least four people were reported dead in separate landslide incidents in Benguet and Rizal on Thursday, as search and rescue operations were underway, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.
According to the NDRRMC, two people, identified as construction workers, died and one was injured in a landslide that occurred at around 9 a.m. in La Trinidad, Benguet.
A report from Baguio City said the victims were buried in the makeshift shelter where they had sought refuge at the height of Tropical Depression “Maymay”in Barangay Shilan, La Trinidad.
Rescuers and paramedics rushed to the landslide site, about 12 kilometers from the Baguio City boundary, and mounted a retrieval operation. Two of the workers were recovered dead from the debris, while the lone survivor was rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims pending notification of their families.
Roads affected
Kennon Road, the historic highway linking Baguio City to the lowlands, was closed to all types of vehicles due to the threat of falling rocks and debris. Only residents living along the highway were allowed to pass, authorities said.
Other major roads in Benguet, including the Quirino Highway, Palispis-Aspiras Highway and Halsema Highway, remained open to traffic, although several sections were affected by rockfalls and minor landslides. Motorists were advised to exercise extreme caution while traveling.
Rockslide
In Rodriguez, Rizal, a rockslide at around 12:20 p.m. claimed the lives of two people.
Authorities said search and rescue operations were ongoing.
Local government units are also preparing to provide assistance to the victims and their families.
Nearly 81,000 people have been affected by the combined effects of Tropical Cyclones "Luis" and "Maymay" and the southwest monsoon, according to the NDRRMC.
In a situation report early on Thursday, the NDRRMC said a total of 23,946 families, or 80,633 persons, were affected in the Ilocos Region (Region I), Cagayan Valley (Region II), Central Luzon (Region III), Bicol Region (Region V), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), Cordillera Administrative Region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR).
A total of 39 evacuation centers remain open, sheltering 2,215 families, or 6,929 individuals displaced by the weather disturbances.
The NDRRMC also recorded partial damage to 12 houses.
Flooding was reported in 83 areas across the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
The government has provided P1.38 million worth of assistance to affected communities.
DSWD aid
The Department of Social Welfare and Development began its relief operations to reach communities affected by the combined efforts of enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay.
In a statement, DSWD Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group Irene Dumlao said that its disaster response teams in its regional offices were now on full alert to resolve the needs of affected local government units.
"As of now, we have already distributed family food packs and ready-to-eat food boxes to affected communities to address their immediate needs." Dumlao, also DSWD spokesman, said.
According to the latest Disaster Response Operations Monitoring, Information, and Communication (Dromic) report as of 6 a.m. of Aug. 6, the DSWD released 1,244 family food packs (FFPs), 266 non-food items (NFIs), and 634 ready-to-eat-food (RTEF) packs to displaced families.
Latest Dromic monitoring figures indicate that the weather disturbances have impacted 26,412 families or 88,738 persons across 290 villages.
The DSWD has also provided P1.798 million as resource augmentation support for the affected communities in Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 5 (Bicol Region, and Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).
