Sarangani landslide death toll rises to 10; 2 children among fatalities

The death toll in the landslide that hit Malapatan town in Sarangani on Friday has risen to 10, the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office has said.

According to a "24 Oras" report by GMA Regional TV’s Efren Mamac, the 10 fatalities in Barangay Poblacion include two children and an individual who was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

The victims were reportedly from two families in separate households.

“Ang landslide hindi talaga malalim kasi ang pag-rescue sa kanila around 6 o’clock based sa statement ng purok chairman,” Malapatan Mayor Salway Sumbo Jr. said.

“Naririnig pa niya ang boses sa ilalim. ‘Yun’ yung isinugod sa ospital pero the rest, tahimik,” he added.

(The landslide wasn’t actually that deep because, according to the purok chairman, when rescue efforts began around 6 o'clock, he could still hear voices from underneath the debris. That was the victim who was rushed to the hospital, but the rest were already silent.)

According to the Malapatan MDRRMO, the ground at the landslide site likely gave way due to monsoon rains after being heavily weakened by the magnitude 7.8 Sarangani earthquake on June 8.

“Posible ito na hindi na-report kasi hindi din siguro ito basta-basta ma-landslide kung walang tension cracks pero ‘yan ay kino-confirm pa natin,” Malapatan MDRRMO Officer Mark Christopher Quiño added.

(It’s possible this wasn't reported earlier, as a landslide wouldn't normally happen without existing tension cracks, but we are still verifying that.)

Following the incident, the provincial local government unit has directed pre-emptive evacuation to other families near the site to avoid potential accidents.

“We already informed the barangay ‘yung Sitio pa doon kung kinakailangan ipa-evacuate na kasi malakas pa man ang ulan,” Sarangani Governor Rogelio Pacquiao said.

(We have already informed the barangay, specifically the sitio in that area, to evacuate if necessary because the rain is still heavy.) —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/NB, GMA News