Naga City casualties rise to 67 as officials shift to retrieval operations

September 27, 2018

NAGA CITY, CEBU-- Bodies retrieved from the landslide area in Barangay Tinaan, Naga City reached 67 Thursday as officials shifted  their operation from rescue to retrieval.

Gary Cabotaje, information officer of Incident Command Post (ICP) said two bodies were recovered before responders stopped their operations for the day. He said 21 persons remain missing while 18 were injured.

“As of 5:45 pm. Therisa Shyne Capoy, SP (Sanguniang Panglungsod) utility worker and her brother Christoper John Lagapa were recovered, bringing the number of fatalities to 67,” Cabotaje stated in a text message. .

On Wednesday, Cabotaje said Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Baltazar Tribunalo recommended to Naga City Mayor Vanessa Kristine Chiong to shift operations status to retrieval. Chiong approved it. DMS