Landslide in Davao de Oro yields 68 bodies, 32 missing

Search and retrieval operations for a landslide that struck Maco, Davao de Oro province last week have yielded 68 bodies with four body parts recovered, while 32 people remain unaccounted for.

As of Wednesday morning, local government officials updated the death toll to 55 confirmed deaths as rescue efforts transitioned to retrieval operations due to no signs of life remaining.

The landslide occurred on February 6 during heavy rain, injuring 32 people; 31 survivors were rescued by first responders.

Apex Mining Corp., which operates a gold mine nearby, stated that two of its service buses carrying workers were buried under the debris.

Barangay Masara had a population of 1,125 as of May 2020 and was previously hit by landslides in September 2008, which killed 24 people and left two missing.

Aid from various sources, including the US government and local communities, has been provided to affected families displaced by the disaster.