Tragedy in the Philippines: Landslide Kills 54

Local authorities confirmed an increase in the number of fatalities following the landslide that hit the Masara region of the Philippines last Tuesday. The death toll reportedly rose to 54, with 19 more bodies recovered from the rubble. However, uncertainty persists, as 63 people, including miners and residents, are still missing. A bus terminal for employees of a gold mine and 55 adjacent homes were buried under tons of rocks, mud and trees. The landslide, which covered an area of 8.9 hectares of the town, left another 32 people injured, some seriously. Amid the devastation, rescue teams managed to pull a 3-year-old girl alive from the rubble on Friday. Her miraculous survival, after almost 60 hours trapped, renewed the impetus of the rescuers, who pledged not to stop their work until they found each missing person. The geographical conditions of the Philippines, with its mountainous terrain and recurrent rainfall, make landslides a constant risk, compounded by deforestation caused by activities such as mining, agriculture, and illegal logging. In recent weeks, rains have reached the region, triggering a series of landslides and floods that forced tens of thousands of people to seek refuge in safe places. In addition, the region has been rocked by strong earthquakes in recent months, which contributed to the instability of the terrain and exacerbated the natural hazards faced by the population.

Original source in Spanish