‘A mild quake suspected to have triggered the landslide’ – EDC HESS head
ORMOC CITY – A 2.7 to 2.8 magnitude earthquake on February 27 might have caused the landslide in EDC’s forest, dropping down an estimated 20,000 tons of rocks and soil with trees on top of it, said Ross Taguiam, head of Health, Environmental, Security and Safety (HESS).
In a media briefing at the command post, barely 600 meters to the landslide area in Upper Mahiao, Taguiam said only trained personnel complete with safety gear are allowed to go the area including the rescuers involved on the ongoing search and retrieval operations. No media personnel were permitted to go the actual site as “more landslides may occur anytime,” he said.
An estimated 20,000 tons of soil buried the nine missing workers including a small mixer. The small road was trapped that made the rescuers more difficult to carry out the retrieval. Taguiam added that right after the incident, the pipelines were cut to allow the heavy equipments perform the search and retrieval operations.
SInsp. Antonio Angcay, Kananga chief of police, said they were conducting a rescue drill at Brgy. Lim-ao that morning when they heard an explosion. First they thought it was part of the drill but when they saw ambulance and different vehicles speeding to one direction they confirmed there was an accident and they rushed to assist.
The landslide near pad 403 brought Brgy. Tongonan much depression and everybody mourned. Shortly after the incident, Brgy. Chairman Periander Bañez did inquiries to check if there were constituents included. He learned that four residents were employed but only two reported to work for the riprapping project in pad 403.
One survivor, 31-year old Benjie Leuterio, a carpenter from Brgy. Tongonan, Ormoc said they were performing each of their assigned works in the benching and benching bullder in the uphill when they heard a loud sound accompanied with the cracking down of soil. He ran fast to a direction though unsure he would be saved. He sustained minor injury, a cracked bone on his palm and was treated in the hospital as out-patient.
Although he was only on his fourth day on the job, his employer shouldered his hospital and medical expenses but uncertain if he will receive his projected daily income. Leuterio’s question was answered when Engr. Albert Ignacio confirmed that all victims will get assistance including their due income the time they are yet incapable to work until the doctor proves they are fit.
Leuterio added he cannot recall how long the tremor lasted. Despite the shaking road, he continued running just to be away from the area. He even left his clothings he wore during the incident in the hospital, so as to forget the experience. His wife, Perla and three children are solely dependent to him.
While the family of missing Alfredo Arabes, 24, mason worker also of Brgy. Tongonan lamented as his body is not yet found. Letecia Arabes, his mother, said survived workers declared Arabes was assigned at the 6-feet hole near the pipes. There were deafening sound of machineries at his area probably the reason why he did not hear the cracking sound of the soil that made him unaware of the landslide.
The Tongonan community is worried on the condition of Arabes’ wife, Ashley who is due to give birth to their second child anytime. She even went to the landslide area waiting for a fresh updates on the retrieval. However, Hon. Bañez said the Brgy. Health Center is readied to give her assistance. He likewise ensured to extend help to the victims when needed.
The EDC now works hand in hand with the First Balfour and JE Construction as its contractor and sub contractor, respectively of providing help to the affected workers and its families. (Elvie Roman-Roa)
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