Police checkpoint saves motorist from landslide in Misamis Oriental

A massive landslide damaged several houses and sent residents scrambling for safety in a mountainous portion of Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.

According to a report of GMA Regional TV One Mindanao’s PJ Dela Peña on “24 Oras”, the incident was caught on dashcam footage of motorist Dante Salang who was supposed to pass through the Gingoog-Claveria Road on Sunday afternoon.

“Life changing moment sya at ang dami kong realization. Andyan talaga ang proteksyon ng Panginoon,” Salang said.

(It was a life-changing moment and I had a lot of realizations. God is really there to protect us.)

“Bago kami makarating sa landslide area merong PNP [Philippine National Police] checkpoint, kung wala ‘yun at hindi kami tumigil doon kahit ilang seconds o minutes baka nataon yung landslide sa pagdaan namin at matabunan kami,” he added.

(Before we reached the landslide area, we were stopped at a PNP checkpoint. If we did not stop, even if it was minutes or seconds, we could’ve been hit by the landslide.)

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) explained the landslide was triggered by the softening of the slope’s portion after residents sourced potable water from a water table in the area. No rainfall was recorded at the time of the incident.

“Sa gitnang bahagi ng na landslide na portion, merong water table at lumalabas ang tubig doon. So lumambot ang lupa sa bahagi na iyon kaya na-erode. Yung mga lupa sa ibabaw natural na guguho din,” said Gingoog City CDRRMO Head Marlon Pajo.

(In the middle of the landslide area, there was a water table where water flows. The land under that portion softened and eroded. Naturally, the land above was also affected.)

The affected families were evacuated to a covered court while the road was temporarily closed to traffic. Authorities finished the clearing operations in the area on Monday.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News