(UPDATE) 200 feared dead as landslide pounds Southern Leyte

The Philippine National Red Cross estimated that as many as 200 people may have died after a landslide pummeled Guinsaugon village in St. Bernard town, Southern Leyte on Friday morning. Authorities have recovered the bodies of four people, although fears of many more deaths linger since over 300 houses and a school building were covered with rocks and mud. Local officials said the continuous rains since last week caused the landslide. The soil from a nearby mountain gave way at around 11 a.m. Friday. Provincial and regional disaster coordinating councils placed rescue teams on red alert upon learning of the incident. The town reportedly rests on a fault line. Survivors said they felt the ground rumble and they soon realized that a mudslide had engulfed many of the houses. President Arroyo has declared a state of calamity in Southern Leyte, which has been hurting from landslides and flooding for over a week now. Rescue teams feared for the safety of the pupils and teachers of Guinsaugon Elementary School, which was reportedly smothered by heaps of mud and rock. Residents said a school program was ongoing when the incident happened. In an interview with GMA 7’s DZBB, Dr. Anthony Golez, National Disaster Coordinating Council spokesman, said Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz has ordered the Armed Forces to utilize all resources in the search and rescue efforts. He further said that as of around 2:30 pm, they were yet to assess the extend of the damage.-GMANEWS.TV, with a report from inq7.net