The death toll from the landslide that buried a gold panning area in Compostela Valley last Jan. 5 contiuned to rise as at least two more bodies were recovered, disaster management officials said Saturday morning.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) head Benito Ramos said in an interview on dzBB, "May nakuha tayong dalawa sa Pantukan kaya 40 na overall."

But while Ramos said the death toll rose to 40, an NDRRMC update as of 6 a.m. indicated number of fatalities was at 42, only three of whom were not yet identified.

An NDRRMC update said the most recently identified fatalities included:


At least 16 were listed as injured, while 40 remained missing, the NDRRMC added.

The NDRRMC also said search and retrieval operations and the demolition of houses in the affected area was suspended Friday due to heavy rain.

Last Jan. 5, a landslide buried the gold panning area in Sitio Diat 1 to Diat 700 in Napnapan village in Pantukan town.

Dozens were buried alive while several shanties and houses made of light materials were wiped out. — LBG, GMA News