MANILA — The tragic landslide that occurred in the southern region of the Philippines has seen a rise in the death toll, now reaching 68. As of Monday, officials have expressed concern that the chances of finding additional survivors are dwindling.
Rescue teams are tirelessly searching for 51 individuals who are still unaccounted for following the devastating landslide on February 6. The disaster took place near a gold mine in the town of Maco, located in Davao de Oro province. The landslide caused a massive amount of destruction, burying homes and vehicles that were intended to transport employees of the mining company.
Ariel Capoy, the disaster officer for Maco town, has stated that the disaster authorities will be transitioning their efforts from search and rescue to search and retrieval starting from Tuesday.
The province of Davao de Oro has been subjected to relentless torrential rains in the past few weeks. This has resulted in severe floods and landslides, forcing numerous families to abandon their homes in search of safety.
In response to this calamity, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, has pledged to provide $1.25 million in humanitarian aid. This aid will be directed towards the communities in the southern islands that have been severely affected by the disaster, as stated by the U.S. embassy in Manila.
Furthermore, the U.S. Defense Department has also stepped in to provide assistance. They have supplied two C-130 cargo planes to aid in the delivery of food packs to the communities that have been impacted by this disaster.
Fatalities just keep increasing, it’s truly heartbreaking.
Disagree. This is a wake-up call for better disaster preparedness and preventive measures.
Disagree. It’s devastating to see the rising fatalities, but it should push us to take immediate action and prioritize better safety measures.