Retrieval operations in Natonin to continue even after Friday deadline

November 5, 2018

NATONIN --  Retrieving bodies of victims in a government building buried by a landslide in Sitio Ha’rang, Barangay Banawel by around 500 persons from various agencies ends on Friday but will be continued by the municipal risk reduction and management office.

At least 12 victims are believed to be missing after a building of the Mt. Province second engineering office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was buried by a landslide at the height of Typhoon "Rosita" last week.

At least 17 bodies were found, most already identified via their relatives.

With 17  found dead, fourteen were rescued during the week-long retrieval operations since Tuesday evening.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau which released only on October 25 a risk assessment of all barangays in all six provinces in the highland Cordillera region listed Barangay Banawel, Natonin as with “high landslide” and “high flooding” risks, contrary to earlier claims that ground zero was safe for construction. DMS