Landslide hits Catanduanes town; 2 hurt

LEGAZPI CITY—Two truck passengers were injured when a landslide triggered by heavy rains and thunderstorm spawned by the tail-end of cold front cascaded down on them on Friday in Viga town in Catanduanes province, police in Bicol said.

Senior Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said a huge volume of soil and rocks cascaded down from a mountain
slope near a telecommunications cell site and hit an Elf truck that was traversing the national road network at Barangay (village) Sagrada Friday morning, Calubaquib said.

The truck was being driven by Gerald Tabor, 39, with helpers Jesus Olat, 52, and Alvin Oboso, 39, all residents of Viga town.

Calubaquib said the landslide that hit that truck was so strong that it dragged the truck into the adjoining river, forcing the driver and his companions to swim for safety towards the riverbank.

The truck passengers suffered multiple injuries and were brought to Viga District Hospital for medical assistance.

In Camarines Sur province, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also reported that two landslides hit the Lagonoy-Presentacion road in Barangay Caguiscan and Patrocino in Lagonoy town.

Neck-deep flash flood also reportedly inundated Sitio (sub-village) Tabog, Burabod in Lagonoy. Mar S. Arguelles, @msarguellesINQ, Inquirer Southern Luzon