RESCUE OPS. Soldiers from the Eastern Mindanao Command rescue landslide victims in the Davao de Oro town of Maco on Wednesday (Feb. 7, 2024). Eastmincom reported that out of the 86 employees of the Apex Mining Co. initially reported trapped, 45 have been rescued and 41 are still missing. (Photo from Eastmincom)
DAVAO CITY – The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) reported Wednesday that out of the 86 employees of the Apex Mining Co. initially reported trapped, 45 have been rescued and 41 are still missing.
Lt. Col. Rosa Ma. Cristina Rosete-Manuel, Eastmincom spokesperson, said that of the 45 rescued persons, three are in critical condition requiring urgent air evacuation while 42 others remain in an evacuation area.
“Efforts continue to locate and rescue the remaining 41 individuals, as declared by Apex Mines. At approximately 00:15 a.m., the rescue operation was halted under the direction of Congressman Ruel Gonzaga, Acting as Incident Post Commander, due to hazardous conditions and the deteriorating situation on the ground,” Manuel said in a statement.
Some 86 families, consisting of some 600 persons in neighboring communities, have been evacuated to safer locations
“However, there are reports of unaccounted individuals believed to be affected by the landslide,” Manuel said.
Emergency communication teams from the Army's 1001st Infantry Brigade have been deployed to establish radio contact within the affected vicinity and temporary command posts (TCPs).
Meanwhile, Manuel said the Army's 25th Infantry Battalion has also established a TCP at Tagbaros Patrol Base while the 1001st Brigade is coordinating efforts at the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Provincial Incident Command Post to provide disaster management assistance.
“Rescue teams are on standby in various locations near the incident site,” Manuel said, adding that 14 military vehicles have been mobilized to support rescue operations, alongside other vehicles from various organizations and government agencies.
Various pieces of heavy equipment from Apex Mining are also on standby, she added, awaiting optimal conditions to resume clearing operations.
In a statement, Apex Mining Co. Inc. said it is working with the government to locate and rescue 45 other employees.
The company said that while the landslide happened outside its mine site, the area is where the buses that ferry the employees of the company wait for its passengers.
"Just before the landslide, there were four 60-seater buses and one 36 pax-capacity jeep waiting for the outgoing employees. One bus had left for Mawab while the rest were still waiting when the landslide occurred, its debris covering the terminal," it said.
The company said it is working with the Office of Representative Ruwel Peter Gonzaga which serves as the command center of the government’s response team, the Provincial Governor’s Office, as well as the Maco and Mawab LGUs for rescue operations – both in taking the injured to hospitals and evacuating affected residents to the Mawab Gym, the evacuation center for the residents of Mainit.
In a separate disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the mining company said it is focused on fully supporting the rescue operations of the local government units by providing equipment, manpower, and food supplies to affected residents, including its employees.
"The Company is on limited operations while it provides resources to the rescue operations," it said.
Butuan flood victims rise
In Butuan City, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) said flooding has already affected about 3,699 families or 11,138 individuals in 24 barangays as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The forced evacuation of families residing near and along the banks of the Agusan River remained in effect as of posting, as the water level of the tributary was still at a critical level.
A total of 10,899 affected individuals were already served by the city government of Butuan, through the CSWDO, in 42 evacuation centers with PHP2,416,725.00 worth of food and non-food items.
“The city government continues to monitor the situation in evacuation centers amidst the increasing number of affected families due to flooding,” the office said in a statement Wednesday.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the 402nd Infantry Brigade (402Bde) said troops from the 23rd Infantry Battalion (23IB) have been deployed to the flood-hit villages in Butuan City to help continue disaster response and relief distribution operations.
“The 23IB already utilized its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief equipment with six military vehicles to help and support the city government and other concerned agencies in the conduct of humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and rescue operations to ensure the safety of affected residents,” Brig. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of 402Bde, said in a statement.
Orio said government troops have already provided support in evacuating 3,120 affected families from 16 flooded villages in the city. (PNA)
