Family of 6 stranded by landslides, ground fissures rescued in Davao Sur

KIDAPAWAN CITY –– A family of six that includes a bedridden male and an infant were rescued by authorities on Wednesday afternoon in upland Barangay Maibo of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, a police report said.

An earlier police report on Nov. 5, indicated that the family was feared to have been buried by a landslide that hit their community in Sitio Limonso as a result of the October 31 tremor.

According to the report from the Provincial Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center, the rescue operation was conducted based on the information provided by daycare teacher Liza Pari.

The Davao del Sur’s 2nd Police Provincial Mobile Force Company, the medical and K-9 teams from the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Fire Protection–Special Rescue Unit conducted the rescue operation.

Rescued were Malissa Munoz, 16, Amanda Balilid, 84, Imelda Emilio, 46, Felipe Emilio, 55, Ronnie Masili, 33, who is bedridden, and 9-month-old infant Reymar Masil.

On Nov. 5, the team evaluated the site for the search-and-retrieval operations, which was put on hold because of the cracks that could endanger the life of rescuers.

It was through drone images that the rescue teams were able to fully evaluate the situation.

The rescue teams left for Barangay Maibo on foot at 12:15 p.m. and reached the house of the trapped family two hours later.

The rescue team brought two victims safely to the evacuation center in Maibo, while the other four family members were brought to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City for further medical attention./lzb