At least seven people perished in the landslide that buried two buses in the town of Maco in Davao de Oro.

The seven were among 86 people who were on their way home when mounds of soil and rock covered their vehicles evening on February 6, 2024 as they were traversing Barangay Masara.

Almost 24 hours later, 48 remained missing, based on data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

Thirty-one others were rescued and all of them sustained injuries.

Up to 758 families living near the landslide site were also evacuated.

The day after the incident, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. led an aerial inspection of Zone 1 in Barangay Masara where rescue and recovery efforts were undertaken by responders from the local government, military, and even from the mining firm where many the victims went to work.

The Eastern Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said at least 14 military vehicles were mobilized to support the rescue and recovery efforts.

Heavy equipment from Apex Mining Co. Inc. were also deployed for clearing operations.

“The 25th Infantry Battalion has established a Tactical Command Post (TCP) at Tagbaros Patrol Base while the 1001st Brigade is coordinating efforts at the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) and the Provincial Incident Command Post, providing leadership assistance in disaster management,” EastMinCom added.

OUTSIDE THE MINING SITE

In a statement released on February 7, Apex Mining Co. Inc. said the area of the landslide is outside its mine operations area.

“The place where the slide happened is outside the mine operations area of Apex Mining,. It is used as a vehicle terminal for buses and jeepneys servicing the employees, its service providers and members of the community,” the statement reads.

“As of 11:30 am, 07 Feb, 62 Apex Mining employees have been accounted for and considered safe. Meanwhile, Apex Mining continues to trace the whereabouts of 45 other employees,” the company added.