Family of 7 dies in ‘Diwalwal’ landslide

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews)—A family of seven perished in a landslide that destroyed two houses in the goldrich Mount. Diwata (more commonly referred to as “Diwalwal”) in the municipality of Monkayo in Davao de Oro Thursday as strong rains and buffeting winds hit many parts of eastern Mindanao.

Monkayo rescue workers prepare their gear. Photo from the MDRRMO-Monkayo Facebook page

Jergrace Cabag, municipal information officer of Monkayo, said in a phone interview that rescuers brought the bodies of the entire family—the parents and five children—to the town hall around 3 p.m.

She said six more persons are still missing in the two houses that were swept away by the landslide at Purok 20 in Sitio Pagasa of Barangay Mount Diwata, about six kilometers away from the gold mining area.

Rescuers, however, were forced to pull out from the landslide area later in the afternoon as the bad weather worsened, Cabag said.

“Visibility has dropped to zero and rescuers reported heavy rains and winds. Our officials decided to stop the recovery efforts,” she added.

A rescuer named “Neil” who was with Cabag told MindaNews over the phone that they “could barely see the terrain because of the strong winds and rains.”

The Monkayo municipal government’s Facebook page said that Mayor Manuel “Way Kurat” E. Zamora has issued Memorandum Order No. 2024015 directing the forced evacuation of residents in hazardous areas “due to intense rain, flooding and landslide threat.”

The Mindanao PAGASA Regional Services Division (Mindanao PRSD), in its advisory released 5:10 p.m. Thursday, has issued an “orange warning level” for Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte, saying “FLOODING is THREATENING in lowlying areas and LANDSLIDES in mountainous areas.” (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)