Landslide injures one, displaces four families
The Olasiman family of sitio Lokana, barangay Kalunasan in Cebu City gave themselves one day to repair their concrete wall, which has seen better days.
But yesterday’s heavy rains canceled those plans as it caused a landslide that toppled the wall and injured one of their own. It also displaced four families in the area.
Ten sacks of cement were piled near the Olaisman family’s 12 by 16 square-meter house located in a steep hillside in sitio Lokana.
The concrete wall collapsed as mounds of sand partially 14-year-old Jesyle Olasiman, injuring her head and bruising her arms.
Her 39-year-old mother Liezle Olasiman was busy helping her two younger siblings while the eldest was out to register for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Jesyle’s 40-year old father Maximiano Olasiman was out of town for work when it happened.
A neighbor identified as Ramon Bandujo immediately responded to the mother’s cries for help and pulled Jesyle out from under the concrete and soil.
She was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) by the Basak Pardo Emergency Response (BPER) team. The landslide site was cordoned off.
“We also advised the barangay officials to immediately evacuate the rest of the residents in the area when the weather starts turning bad,” disaster management office executive director Simeon Romarate said.
Maximiano said he rushed home from Alcantara town, where he works as a security guard after his wife called him on the accident.
“Ever since we lived here in 1997, we just experienced a landslide now),” Maximiano said in Cebuano. The youngest, nine year-old Niña Mae, said she was traumatized by the incident.
Niña Mae was awake when she was pinned down by their refrigerator. She was rescued by her mother. Residents are adamant in staying in the area because they have nowhere else to go.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo, who chairs the City Council Social Welfare committee, said they will extend assistance to the affected families. With a report from Correspondent Edison delos Angeles
