Body retrieved in Leyte landslide

CEBU CITY—Rescuers retrieved on Sunday night the body of one of the nine workers who were missing following a landslide inside the geothermal complex of the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) in Kananga town, Leyte.

According to Kananga Mayor Elmer Codilla, Marlon Boanghog was recovered at 8:10 p.m., at the site where he was last seen at Pad 403, Upper Mahiao Barangay (village) Lima-ao, about 10 kilometers from the town proper of Kananga.

Codilla said rescuers spotted the body of Boanghog at 5:30 p.m. but it took the rescuers more than two hours to retrieve the body because they had to dig manually.

The body was buried about four meters deep. One of his feet was pinned down by a boulder.

Codilla said operation was ongoing to look for the eight other missing workers.

Five workers were killed and 21 others were hurt after they were hit by cascading earth and rocks on Friday morning.

They were among the 45 workers who were  constructing a concrete structure to protect the steam pipes from landslide.

The workers were hired by JE Arradaza, subcontractor of First Balfour, project contractor of EDC.