10-2-2024 (MANILA) A young girl and a baby boy have been found alive amidst the devastating landslide that struck the gold-mining village of Masara in Maco, Davao de Oro. The rescue operation has been hailed as a miraculous feat, as hopes of finding survivors had dwindled nearly 60 hours after the tragedy occurred.
The municipal government of Maco confirmed that the three-year-old girl, affectionately dubbed “The Angel of Masara,” was rescued on the morning of the third day. Similarly, the Philippine Red Cross Emergency Response Unit reported the afternoon rescue of a two-month-old baby, who was suffering from severe diarrhea.
Both children were promptly transported to the Doctors Community Hospital in Mawab to receive necessary medical attention. According to reports, the young girl managed to cling to a woman before being swept away by the landslide, as shared by Ednar Dayanghirang, the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region chief.
Remarkably, the girl was discovered in a spot with a hollow area that allowed her to breathe. When rescued, she was frail and severely dehydrated. Rescuers tirelessly used their bare hands and shovels to search for survivors, and the sight of the young girl gave them renewed hope, as stated by Edward Macapili, a disaster agency official from Davao de Oro.
A heartwarming video circulating on social media shows a rescuer carrying the mud-covered, crying child in his arms. Macapili confirmed that the child appeared to have no visible injuries, and the authorities have refrained from releasing the victims’ names.
The tragic incident has resulted in a death toll of 15, with 110 individuals still missing, according to reports from the Maco municipality. In response, hundreds of affected families from Masara and neighboring villages have been relocated to safer grounds and are currently residing in various evacuation centers. Essential needs and assistance are being provided to them, while schools in the municipality have temporarily suspended classes.
The Philippine Red Cross has deployed two water tankers to Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte, working to support communities that have lost access to clean drinking water due to heavy rains and floods.
Labor group Federation of Free Workers (FFW) has called upon the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to aid the affected mineworkers. They urge the expedited processing of Social Security System benefits and work-related statutory benefits from DOLE’s Employees’ Compensation Commission. Additionally, FFW suggests that SSS and ECC provide on-site support, including financial aid, psychosocial interventions, and employment assistance to the victims and their families, as stated by Arlene Degayo Golloso, a governing board member of FFW.
The FFW is also advocating for a comprehensive investigation led by DOLE, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the relevant local government units. Such an investigation aims to prevent similar incidents in the future and emphasizes the importance of adhering to occupational health and safety standards while ensuring environmental safety and the availability of green jobs.
The Maco municipal disaster risk reduction management office, alongside military and search and rescue teams from the provincial and national governments, continues their relentless efforts in conducting search and rescue operations. Despite the challenging weather conditions, including intermittent rain, rescuers are determined to locate any remaining survivors.
While heavy earth-moving equipment is employed in certain areas, rescuers must rely on manual labor, using their bare hands and shovels to excavate the mud in locations where they suspect bodies may be buried. The affected area had been designated a “no-build zone” after previous landslides in 2007 and 2008, but some individuals chose to return, defying the safety measures and warnings issued by authorities.
As the search for survivors continues, rescuers are racing against time and battling adverse weather conditions. Sniffer dogs have also been deployed to aid in the detection of those buried beneath the debris and mud.
