2008-09-07 10:00:27 - MACO, Compostela Valley. 6 killed, 7 missing in Compostela Valley landslide

By Jessie L. Casalda

At least six people were killed, including two children, while seven others were missing, including a barangay chairman, when landslides hit Barangay Masara, Maco, this province, around 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and early morning on Sunday.

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As of presstime, four bodies were already recovered and already laid in a church in the area.

Vincent Mancilla,

a local resident, said the first landslide occurred in the afternoon on Saturday, followed by another one at around 3:00 in this Sunday in the area.

Barangay Captain Venancio Anquera led in assisting the affected residents Saturday afternoon but the following morning, his residence was among the houses buried during the succeeding landslide. He is now missing.

Mancilla said several houses have been buried, although he could not ascertain the exact number.

Last year, a landslide also occurred in the area, killing at least 10 persons but residents still refused to vacate the area, saying that they source their income from a nearby Crew Mining Corporation (formerly Apex Mining Company).

Comval Governor Arturo 'Chiongkee' Uy said he had already sent a team to Barangay Masara to help in the rescue efforts.

'We have a team composed of engineering, social workers, Red Cross and other agencies of Comval and we already sent them to Barangay Masara,' Uy said.

Uy also urged the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to come up with a recommendation on the stability of the area, considering that during last year's land slide last year, they already found a crack in the area.

'Last year, we have relocated the residents near the area due to the risk we have seen,' Uy added.

'The MGB should conduct an honest-to-goodness assessment of the area as to what we should do, so that we can make a move to keep the residents out of danger,' Uy stressed.

'If they would recommend to do blasting operation using dynamites, then we will do it just to ensure the safety of the residents,' Uy said.