3 more 'missing' in ComVal landslide turn out alive

At least three people reported as missing in the wake of a landslide that buried a gold panning area in Compostela Valley last Jan. 5 turned out to be alive, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday.

 

The NDRRMC said this brought to seven the number of people reported missing in the wake of the landslide who turned out alive.

 

In its 6 a.m. Wednesday update, the NDRRMC identified two of the "survivors" as "Dongcoy" Canoy of Diat 1, Napnapan in Pantukan; and Cerafin Mateo, 16, of Mabini in Compostela Valley.

 

"(Canoy and Mateo) were previously reported missing, they were in Asuncion, Davao del Norte and Tagum City when the incident happened," the NDRRMC said.

 

A third was identified as Virgilio Señoron/Virgilio Zamora, the NDRRMC said.

 

Others who were reported alive included "Kambal"/"Junjun," Santos Abainza III, Santos Saraum Jr. and Santos Saraum Sr.

 

On the other hand, the death toll remained at 36, with the most recently identified including:

At least 16 were injured while 36 are still missing.

 

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said the municipal disaster risk reduction and management council in Pantukan discussed shifting their focus from search and rescue to retrieval operations.

 

It also discussed the relocation of families living along hazard areas, and the extension of P5,000 burial assistance. –KG, GMA News