Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20) — Local authorities reported 12 deaths in recent rainfall-induced landslides that hit the towns of Monkayo and Maragusan in Davao de Oro.
Meanwhile, Maragusan Mayor Lito Cabalquinto also confirmed on Friday that a 23-year-old miner was killed in a landslide in Barangay Tandik.
Cabalquinto said it took 18 hours to recover the body of Kayle Dacer Muñoz.
Local responders in both areas are continuing search and rescue efforts.
The Philippine National Police earlier said members of the Assembly of God Church were having a religious gathering when the tragedy in Barangay Mt. Diwata struck.
One-year-old Amara Kate Delola was injured, it added.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Wednesday reported that nearly 45,000 families or over 187,000 people have been affected by flooding and landslides in the Davao Region.
At around 1 p.m. on Saturday, the municipal government of Monkayo announced that it had found another body, adding to the 11 deaths previously reported.
The individual was identified as Rommel Gumatin, the missing 45-year-old patriarch of the Gumatin family whose members, including five children with ages ranging from 1 to 10 years, also died due to the landslide and were recovered on Thursday.
The death toll in Barangay Mt. Diwata has risen to 10 on Friday after three more bodies were recovered during search, rescue, and retrieval operations.
