Death toll in Itogon landslide climbs to 44 —PNP Cordillera

The death toll in the landslide area in Itogon, Benguet has climbed to 44, bringing the total number of deaths due to the tragedy to 74 in the entire province, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Sunday.

PNP Cordillera spokesperson Superintendent Pilita Tacio said the 44 deaths were recorded in Barangay Ucab in Itogon, according to a report on Super Radyo dzBB by Jonathan Andal.

Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said retrieval operations in the area are ongoing, with four backhoes used to recover the bodies.

He said that in the entire municipality, 39 individuals are still missing while 10 recovered bodies are still unidentified.

A graveyard site was put up three kilometers from the landslide area where unidentified bodies were laid to rest.

"Kung may ma-recover, i-identify nila kung may identification. Kung wala, diretso sa forensic [team] at doon gagawin ang proseso para kapag inilibing namin sa temporary burial ground, kung may magke-claim ay i-e-exhume namin," Palangdan said.

Palangdan said two other Itogon residents died after they were carried away by the strong river current.

Aside from the 44 deaths in Itogon, Benguet, the PNP said 13 others died in Baguio City, six in Mt. Province and one in Kalinga province due to the effects of Typhoon Ompong, bringing the death toll in the entire Cordillera region to 94.

Meanwhile, the PNP said 44 individuals are still missing—44 in Benguet and two in Baguio City. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News