Elderly couple dies in Romblon landslide

SAN PEDRO CITY — An elderly couple died after their house was hit by landslide in San Fernando town in Romblon province early Sunday.

Sr. Supt. Leo Quevedo, Romblon police chief, identified the fatalities as Masoline and Matilde Romero, both 60 years old.

The landslide occurred about 8 a.m. in Barangay (village) Mabini in San Fernando town on Sibuyan island, amid non-stop rain Sunday due to tropical depression “Urduja.”

“The rain is not that strong but continues to persist,” Quevedo said in a phone interview. He said this may have triggered a portion of the mountain to give in, burying the couple inside their home.

He said disaster responders were still trying to retrieve the remains of the victims.

Still in San Fernando, some roads were rendered impassable by flash floods in the villages of Taclobo and España.

Meanwhile in Marinduque province, 33 families (140 individuals) were evacuated due to heavy rain and flooding in the towns of Gasan, Mogpog, and Sta. Cruz, according to the regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. /cbb