Landslide in Aklan town hampers travelers to and from Boracay

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Thousands of commuters, including tourists bound for and coming from Boracay Island, were stranded until late Monday after a landslide blocked parts of the national highway in Nabas town in Aklan.

Half of a 50-meter span of the highway in Barangay (village) Libertad in Nabas was still impassable on Tuesday, according to Edward Quiniquini, executive officer of the municipal disaster risk reduction and management council.

No one was injured but commuters, including those catching flights in the capital town in Kalibo and Caticlan, the jump-off point to Boracay Island, had to get off vehicles and cross the landslide area on foot. The commuters, many with luggage, had to cross muddy areas to get around the debris-covered area.

Quiniquini said a small landslide first struck the area after days of rains. A bigger landslide struck past noon, rendering the highway impassable.

Heavy equipment, including pay loaders from the Department of Public Works and Highways and private construction firms, were sent to the area to clear the debris. One lane of the highway was cleared for vehicles past 5 p.m. on Monday.

Quiniquini said the MDRRMC and DPWH were still working out ways to clear the opposite lane of debris, citing possible danger posed by loosened earth.

The highway connects Caticlan in Malay town to Kalibo and northern parts of Antique. Parts of the highway are prone to landslides especially during rains.