THE teams on clearing operations from the landslide site in Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro will clear its works as no more human remains were dug out since Sunday, said the authorities.
“If ma-maintain natin ‘yung number of heavy equipment natin na magagamit during the operation, hopefully, by Friday o Saturday, matatapos na po ang ating operation. But, that will actually depend on the recommendation pa rin ng ating incident commanders, ng ating Incident Management Team,” Mawab Municipal Information Officer Jiesyl Mae Tan said.
As of 7 p.m. on February 20, 2024, the number of bodies found at the landslide site reached 93. At least 79 have been turned over to their families. Fourteen remained unidentified.
The Incident Management Team clarified that body parts retrieved were among the 98 fatalities announced previously.
Eight individuals are still missing, as of this writing.
“If we counter-check po, we have kasi 14 unidentified bodies and body parts. And if we counter-check it with the eight missing, maybe, just maybe po, baka itong eight missing individuals natin ay andun na po sa unidentified body and body parts po,” Tan added.
The evacuees have taken shelter at schools since the landslide on February 6, 2024.
“Base sa declaration sa MDRRMO, pwede na mobalik didto sa mga safe nga lugar and kadtong pwede na mobalik. So, unsa’y mahitabo sa uban nga katong dili safety, mao to siya ang atoang gina-inventory kaya para ibutang nato didto sa atoang proposed nga tent city,” Response Cluster Resource Center Camp Manager Joel Penido said.
