POLICE have reported that at least seven people were killed, an infant was critically injured, while no less than four others were missing in a landslide in Monkayo, Davao de Oro amid heavy rains on Thursday.
The victims were holding prayer worship inside a home at Purok 19, Pagasa in Barangay Mt. Diwata around 11 am when tragedy struck. The injured child is one year old.
Julius Neñaria, husband of one of the fatalities, had been praying for a miracle.
“Gumawa Ka ng milagro, Panginoon, na mabuhay sila. Ipakita mo sa aking asawa ang iyong milagro. Kasi nanguna lang siya para sa prayer worship. Wala siyang ibang intensyon,” Neñaria said.
Neñaria added, “Sabi niya sa akin na maaga siya aalis kasi bumaba na ang host nila. Pinagalitan pa niya ang kaniyang anak kasi gustong sumama kahit umuulan. Kalahating oras lang bago ang kanilang worship. Hindi talaga nila ito inaasahan.”
Meanwhile, the municipal government of Monkayo will implement a forced evacuation of residents in Barangay Mt. Diwata in the wake of the incident, according to GMA News.
Disaster response efforts were paused at 3:30 p.m. Thursday due to relentless rains and other landslides in the area, according to a report by Jeycel Villacorte on Super Radyo dzBB.
The search for the missing victims will resume on Friday, if the weather permits. A shear line had been causing rains in the area.
“Nag-conduct kaagad tayo ng search, rescue and retrieval operations kaya lang dahil malakas pa ang ulan, tinigil na lang muna kasi hindi na safe sa mga rescuers natin na nadu’n,” said Jegrace Cabag, Monkayo, Davao de Oro Information Officer.
Glen Guia, who assisted in the rescue efforts, said that, “Nakababahala kasi may bumabagsak pa sa itaas. Gusto namin silang ma-rescue kaagad baka sakaling buhay pa.”
