Miners had been warned to vacate landslide area—DENR

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources pointed out in the wake of Thursday’s landslides in the Pantikan area of Compostela Valley that it had issued warnings for residents to vacate the area because it was prone to landslides.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau director Leo Jasareno said most of those who were killed by the landslide were small-scale illegal miners and members of their families.

Jasareno noted that the DENR had directed local officials to evacuate the people in Pantukan after a similar incident in April 2011.

As of Thursday morning, at least 25 people had been reported killed and 16 rescued from the landslides in Pantukan, the DENR said.