22, not 25, confirmed dead in Compostela landslide, says military

PANTUKAN, Compostela Valley, Philippines—The confirmed death toll in Thursday’s landslide in Sitios Diat Uno and Diat Palo in Barangay Napnapan here was only 22, a military official said Friday.

Earlier, municipal health officer Arnulfo Lantaya said 25 people were killed and dozens more were missing when mud and other debris buried the shanties of small-scale miners and their families around 3 a.m.

But Col. Roberto Domines, commander of the Army’s 1001st Infantry Brigade, said that as of Friday morning, only 22 people, including several minors, were confirmed dead.

Domines also said after the initial confusion was sorted out, the authorities have ascertained that only seven people were missing.

The search-and-rescue operation was continuing, he said.