28 lives lost in Davao de Oro landslide by Saturday noon

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Davao de Oro landslide fatality count had reached 28 as of noontime Saturday, the Maco Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported.

The number of lifeless bodies dug under tons of soil and rocks that covered an area in Barangay Masara in Maco was based on compiled reports from the Maco MDRRMC, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Police Regional Office 11, the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command and the Davao de Oro provincial government.

The Maco local government unit, in a statement released at noontime Saturday, confirmed that 28 bodies from the landslide-stricken area had been recovered since rescue operations started immediately after mud and other debris cascaded from a hill and covered a part of Barangay Masara at past 7:00 p.m. Monday.

The landslide that hit Barangay Masara was preceded by heavy downpours in the surroundings, according to the Maco LGU.