33 dead in Itogon, Benguet; toll may rise after mining site landslide

Thirty-three people have been confirmed dead in Itogon, Benguet and the death toll could rise after a landslide struck an old mining site in the town in the wake of Typhoon Ompong.

In an interview on GMA Super Radyo dzBB, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said that a total of 33 have been confirmed dead, of which 28 have already been identified.

Another 29 have been declared missing, while seven others were reported injured.

"Kung susumahin mo, magiging parang... Hindi ko ma-accept pero parang pupunta sa 100 po ang casualty dito sa amin," Palangdan said.

This comes as government reports indicate that some 40 to 50 people may have been trapped in a landslide that affected a makeshift chapel and evacuation center.

"'Yung dating minahan na 'yan, inabandon ng Benguet Corp. Pero ang hindi maganda po, may mga small-scale miners na pumasok sa abandoned mining tunnels ng corporation," said Palangdan.

"'Yung dating townhouse, ginamit nila na kanilang chapel at kanilang evacuation center. Doon sila pumunta nong papasok na 'yung bagyo," he explained.

While the individuals took refuge in the building, the Baguio-Itogon-San Manuel National Highway collapsed, trapping the building.

"Kahapon, nahulog 'yung national highway — 'yung Baguio-Itogon-San Manuel National Highway nahulog 'yun, natabunan at tsaka parang (itinulak) 'yung building at tsaka natabunan," said Palangdan.

"Tinatayang mga 40 to 50 people, nandoon sila or more than, because there may have been some small-scale miners that have been trapped inside the tunnels," he added.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Sunday, PAGASA said Ompong was spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 705 kilometers west-northwest of Calayan, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 145 kilometers per hour (kph), and gustiness of up to 180kph.

But it will not have any direct effect on the country. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/LBG, GMA News