Death toll from landslides in Baybay, Abuyog in Leyte reaches 96

Map of Leyte province. INQUIRER.net

TACLOBAN CITY––The number of persons who died due to landslides in Baybay City and Abuyog town in Leyte reached 96 on Thursday, April 14.

Records of the Baybay City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office show that rescuers pulled out 64 persons from the mud and other debris after the devastation brought by Tropical Depression “Agaton.”

In Abuyog, 32 persons, 29 of whom were residents of Barangay Pilar, had been retrieved.

The number of fatalities in the two landslide-hit areas was expected to increase as retrieval operations continued.

Anamelle Bantaculo, village councilor of Kantagnos, one of the worst-hit areas in Baybay, appealed for help, especially food, water, medicine, blanket, and even tarpaulin for residents, who survived the mudslide but lost their homes.

“Our gymnasium is now occupied by 65 families. I’m asking people to help us even by providing tents for affected families, especially those who lost their homes,” she said.

In Abuyog, about 43 kilometers away from Baybay City, 32 people died due to a landslide.

Fr. Amadeo Alvero of the Palo Archdiocese and part of the Caritas in Palo said he did not expect the tragedy to happen.

“I talked to some survivors who thought they could not survive. Indeed most of them were still shocked. Many of them shared that they made a great run for them to survive. And they prayed hard, calling God to spare their lives,” he said.

“Many are still waiting for the missing members of their families as the rescuers continue to retrieve bodies from the rubbles,” he added.

Residents believed 177 persons were missing from Pilar, a village located at the foot of a mountain where the landslide originated.

On Wednesday, Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista visited Baybay City and went to the villages of Bunga and Katagnos where he extended financial assistance to affected families.

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