1 dead, 4 hurt as slide hits van, jeepney on Kennon Road

THIS BAGUIO-bound van was damaged as a landslide triggered by heavy rain hit it along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet on Monday morning. A woman on board the van died while at least four others, who were on board the van and a passenger jeepney, were hurt when the landslide hit the vehicles at 9 a.m. PHOTO BY EV ESPIRITU / Inquirer Northern Luzon

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—A woman was killed while at least four others were hurt when a landslide hit a van and a passenger jeepney along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, on Monday morning, Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan said.

Fongwan, citing reports relayed to the province’s disaster response unit here, said the vehicles bound for Baguio City were negotiating a section of Kennon Road in Barangay Camp 6 when the slide occurred at 9 a.m.

Reports received by the INQUIRER from disaster response teams said a woman, who was on board the van, died while being taken to a hospital here.

Fongwan said the victims were taken to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center and the Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart in Baguio City.

Benguet has been experiencing moderate to heavy rain since last week.

Following the slide, the Department of Public Works and Highways closed the 32-km Kennon Road as it cleared the debris on the highway.

Last week, the DPWH also closed Kennon Road for two days as heavy rain dumped by Tropical Storm “Egay” triggered landslides along the route.

RESIDENTS walk along the landslide-hit section of Kennon Rd. in Tuba, Benguet, on Monday morning. EV ESPIRITU