54 dead in Cordillera; 42 missing in collapsed bunkhouse in Itogon: official

September 17, 2018

BAGUIO CITY  – Casualties due to landslide rose to 54, with 49 missing in the Cordillera Administrative region, authorities said Monday.

Of the 49 missing, around 42 are those believed trapped in the mud, rocks and boulder beneath a bunkhouse in Barangay Ucab, Itogon, Benguet.

Itogon mayor Victorio Palangdan said there might be some 70 miners including their families buried alive hoping for the biggest miracle that they are still alive under the mud.

In Manila, Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde said 1 24-man search and rescue platoon of the Special Action Force is in Itogon to search for survivors.

Albayalde said the unit two radar life detectors, harnesses, digging tools and other search and rescue equipment.

Mario Iringan, director of the Interior and Local Governments in the Cordillera said 34 were reported dead in Itogon, Baguio City 9; Kalinga 1; Mt. Province 6;  Benguet -- Tuba 1 and La Trinidad 3.

A total of 33 were injured.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu ordered all small scale mining operations stopped in Benguet. DMS