DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 13 February)—The search, rescue and retrieval (SRR) operations at the Masara landslide site were halted today due to ground movement.
Ferdinand Dobli, Apex Mining community relations manager and incident commander, said in a press conference streamed via Facebook Live that they had to halt SRR operations around 2 p.m. due to unstable ground at the landslide site in Zone 1, Barangay Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro, as advised by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-Region XI).
Dobli added they have to relocate their station command 50 meters away from their current post, which is at the residence of Masara barangay captain Douglas Dumalagan Jr., which faces the landslide area’s ground zero.
He said their team is putting up cameras to monitor the place fronting ground zero.
Maco Mayor Arthur Carlos Voltaire Rimando said that rescuers will officially transition to search and retrieval operations by Wednesday, a move contained in an approved executive order.
“We are positive that we can still rescue more individuals, so we’re doing it with utmost cautiousness,” the mayor said.
Lea Añora, Local Government Operations Officer (LGOO) of the Department of Interior and Local Government – Management of the Dead and Missing (DILG-MDM) Cluster, said that their latest count enlists 67 bodies and four body parts from cadavers recovered, totaling to 71 dead bodies from Monday’s 68 death count. She also reported 47 still missing individuals.
Añora that added cadavers will undergo a temporary burial process by Wednesday as they give off bad odor and health concerns. But she said the temporary burial process will be upon approval of the Municipal Health Office – Office of Sanitary Inspectors of the Maco and Mawab local government units.
Añora said the retrieved bodies are being put in cadaver bags although not yet embalmed. “We are considering religious orientation, but they will be treated,” she noted.
The local government unit of Maco also urged possible relatives of apparent missing individuals to visit St. Peter Funeral Homes in Montevista, Davao de Oro for Apex Mining and Maria-Socio General Services Inc. (MSGSI) employees, and Cofreros Rosario Funeral Homes in Mawab, Davao de Oro for community dwellers. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)
