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By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent

A 16-year old boy is dead after a landslide in an abandoned quarry area in Barangay Pagatpat during heavy downpour Tuesday afternoon.

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Authorities identified the fatality as John Gabriel Mercado, 16, and a resident of Phase II-B Lot-31 Block-3 Relocation Site, Sitio Calaanan, Barangay Canitoan. The victim is a third year high school student of Pedro Oloy Roa National High School.

The victim was rushed to JR Borja General Hospital in Barangay Carmen but was declared dead upon arrival by attending physicians.

Jestoni Mercado, victim’s elder brother said the victim went towards the quarry area to get sand and gravel intended for a minor-construction of their house when heavy downpour occurred Tuesday afternoon.

Gi-ingnan man ni sa akong papa nga dili na moadto kay basin mobundak ang ulan. Wala kabalo nga miadto gyud siya,” he said.

Few minutes later, neighbors informed them that a landslide occurred at the abandoned quarry area.

He said they went immediately to the quarry area which is located some 200 meters from their house and only to find out that his younger brother was buried by the landslide.

Residents in the area quickly dug the landslide area and were able to pull out the victim from the rubble.

Gidali namo og sakay sa taxi pero na-traffic mi pa-ingon didto sa hospital mao nga nalangan mi,” Jestoni said.

The victim was along with his two other brothers when the incident occurred.

Pagatpat barangay chairman Joshua Taboclaon said the quarry area used to be area operated by the city government during the construction of houses in the relocation area.

Nakurat kita nga nag-landslide gahapon kay dili man kayo taas ang quarry,” he said.

He confirmed that the quarry area was previously operated by the city government during the time of the housing construction at the relocation site.

Gipaspasan man kini og quarry sa city government kaniadto pero ang unahan man gud is private property mao nga gi-undangan na,” he added.

He said the soil around the quarry area softens whenever there is continuous rain.

 

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