Another landslide hit St. Bernard town in Southern Leyte, the scene of a massive avalanche almost four years ago that caused widespread damage and the death of 1,126 people.
This time at least five children, including a one-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl, were buried and killed while another is still missing in Barangay Balod-balod.
Army rescuers recovered the bodies of Fatima Discaryal, five, her one-year-old younger brother Rodel, and three-year old Jordan Laquipon from beneath the tons of debris that buried houses made of light material. Also recovered were the remains of 11-year-old Patrick Pelaez and Ricavelle Montederamos, 12, who drowned in a creek in Pancho Villa, Bontoc Southern Leyte, and in Barangay Maanyag Tomas Oppos town, respectively.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the landslide was caused by heavy floods that Southern Leyte. Three to five deep floodwaters also inundated five sections of the Taft-Buray in Eastern Samar. Floods and landslides over the weekend also forced more than 1,000 families to flee their homes in Leyte and nearby Samar Island.
