A farmer died while another is still missing, as of this writing, after they were buried in a landslide that hit their farm in Labason, Zamboanga del Norte following heavy rains.

An aerial video footage showed the extent of the landslide, which covered about seven hectares of farmland in Barangay Ubay on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the landslide was triggered by continuous rains, which may have softened the soil.

MDRRMO personnel and other agencies immediately conducted search and retrieval operations after learning that two farmers were buried.

The body of a 35-year-old farmer was recovered the next day while his 46-year-old companion remains missing, as of this writing.

MDRRMO said the two farmers were resting at their shanty after copra work when the landslide struck.

“Ang initial, based sa mga witnesses, nagpahulay sila didto kay gikan nag-kopras, then kusog ang ulan, then madungog pa nila nga nagpa-music then, mao na to, after the incident, na-missing na sila,” MDRRMO Operations Officer, Christian Marvin Sabijon, said.

MDRRMO added that continuous rains and unstable soil have hampered rescue efforts and made the operation risky for rescuers.

“Ang weather condition sa among experience is wala siya’y ulan pagkabuntag. Pagka-udto, sugod na siya’g ulan then humok ang yuta tungod sa ulan, then naa pa’y movement ang yuta. Very risky sa mga responder mag-conduct og search and retrieval,” Sabijon added.

GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to the families of the farmers for a statement, as of this writing.