Landslide kills 4, including 2 children, in Basyang-hit CDO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A late-night landslide triggered by heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Basyang claimed the lives of four individuals, including two children, in Barangay Agusan on Thursday.

The disaster struck Zone 1 of Agusan at around 10:30 p.m., following hours of relentless rainfall. The landslide buried a house, killing a married couple identified as Paul Lariosa, 47, and Ruffah Lariosa, 35.

Two other relatives — a 12-year-old child and an 11-month-old toddler — were also confirmed dead in the incident, according to Nick Joaquin Jabagat, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD).

Jabagat noted that while barangay officials had conducted “rekoreda” (public announcements) for three days before the storm’s arrival, this specific area had no prior history of landslides, hence residents did not quite heed the warning. 

“This is the first time this happened here,” Jabagat, speaking in Bisaya, told Juander Radyo in a broadcast interview.

The storm also caused significant flooding across the city. The national highway along the villages of Bugo, Cugman, and Tablon was submerged, causing severe traffic disruptions and temporary road closures. 

CDRRMD remains on heightened alert as they continue to monitor unstable slopes and low-lying communities, Jabagat said./coa