STRONG rains and buffeting rains forced rescuers to stop digging the muddy landslide that destroyed two houses in the gold-rich Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo town in Davao de Oro Thursday.
Monkayo town Information officer Gergrace Cabag said rescue officials decided to stop and pulled out the 25-man team from the disaster site in Purok 20, Sitio Pagasa in Diwalwal because the weather has worsened late Thursday night afternoon
“Visibility has dropped to zero and rescuers reported heavy rains and winds. Our officials decided to stop the recovery efforts,” Cabag said by phone.
Cabag said the rescue team arrived at the Monkayo town at 3 pm yesterday bringing seven casualties.
She said the bodies of an entire family of seven ― the parents and five children ― were brought to the townhall by the rescuers.
Cabag said they are still looking for six persons who were in the two houses that were swept away by the landslide.
She said Purok 20 is located six kilometers from the gold-rich Diwalwal.
“We could barely see the terrain because of the strong winds and rains,” a rescuer named ‘Niel’ said.
Nigel said they have to ask their officials because of the adverse weather conditions they encountered in Purok 20.
Major General Allan Hambala, commanding general of the 10th army division said they could not send trucks to Purok 20 because entire roads leading to the village were flooded.
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