Death toll in Itogon landslide now at 32

The number of people confirmed killed in the landslide in Itogon, Benguet on Saturday reached 32 on Friday. 

According to Saleema Refran's report on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho", one of the corpses included half a body.

The search, rescue, and retrieval operations on the massive landslide entered its sixth day but the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) warned about the possibility of new landslides amid heavy rains.

Officials decided to pull out some of the rescuers and allowed only 30 workers at a time at the site.

"Assessment po ng MGB na delikado po 'yung site, kaya mgayon, mas pinahigpit po 'yung pagpunta sa ibaba dahil nga baka bigalng umulan," Incident Command Post (ICP) ground commander Lison Latawan said.

Officials said 90 persons would take shifts with 30 at a time. Heavy equipment, including four backhoes, have also arrived at the area.

Some of the workers who had to pull-out of Friday were still hopeful that more survivors would be found.

"Gusto pa nga namin ituloy kaya lang, 'yun ang utos nila. At ipagdasal nalang sana may buhay pa," one rescuer said.

The landslide in the mountainous area was triggered by Typhoon Ompong, which tore through Northern Luzon with heavy rains and lashing winds over the weekend.

More than 60 people in the Cordillera Administrative Region were killed in its onslaught while several others have been reported missing. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News