LANDSLIDE LEAVES 7 DEAD, 4 MISSING IN MONKAYO, DAVAO DE ORO

A LANDSLIDE triggered by heavy rains on Thursday left seven people dead, four missing, and one critically injured in Monkayo, Davao de Oro.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRM) identified the victims as Rommel Gumatin, his wife Catherine and their five children.

A one-year-old baby is in serious condition at the hospital.

The victims were  holding a prayer worship inside a home at Purok 20, Bgy. Pag-asa in Bgy. Mt. Diwata past 11 a.m. when tragedy struck.

“May prayer meeting daw sila. Dahil sa sunud-sunod na pag-ulan, nagkaroon ng landslide at natabunan sila ng lupa,” Fe Maestre, Davao de Oro Public Information officer, said.

The municipality of Monkayo’s Facebook page confirmed the death of seven residents, prompting Mayor Manuel E. Zamora to issue Memorandum Order 2024-015 for forced evacuation due to the intense rain, flooding, and landslide threat.

Maestre said the affected residents were provided relief aid.

“’Yun mga nagsilikas ay nahahtiran na ng pagkain, relief assistance na 4,000 family food packs,” Maestre said.

Rescue and retrieval operations are ongoing for the four others buried under the rubble.