Death toll in Camarines Sur town rises to 25; 23 still missing

LEGAZPI CITY — The number of  bodies recovered in Sagñay, Camarines Sur has risen to 25 on Tuesday while 23 others remain missing after they were buried in a landslide caused by heavy rains brought about by Tropical Depression “Usman” on Saturday.

Marjun San Felipe, Sagñay’s municipal administrator, said most of the victims were those who took shelter in the lowlands in Patitinan village and families who were washed out in the chapel.

He said they are experiencing difficulty in the retrieval operations because of the inclement weather, poor telecommunications, and the difficulty in reaching the area due to impassable roads.

He said in one area, the landslide covered almost five hectares.

San Felipe said they transformed the covered court in Patitinan into an incident command center.

“The bodies were brought there once they are retrieved,” he said, adding that evacuees need potable water, shelter, and additional relief goods to get through the days ahead. /ee