BAYBAY CITY - It has been over a week since Tropical Depression 'Agaton' wrought havoc and claimed over 50 lives in Brgy. Kantagnos here due to multiple landslides that struck early Monday morning (April 11).
Over 210 houses were buried in mud in what is now called a ‘ground zero’ leaving 50 people dead. Of these, 23 are still unidentified and 84 remain missing.
Staff Sergeant Samuel Corsanes Jr., Quick Reaction Team Leader of the 82nd Civil Military Operations Company for Humanitarian Assistance And Disaster Response (HADR) in Baybay was one of the first responders in the area.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, together with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Office are at the forefront of the still ongoing search, rescue, and retrieval operations.
They braved hours of hiking, crossing a river with strong currents, and tackling thick mud covering the houses to rescue the survivors despite the danger and heavy rains.
"At first, we did not know where to pass going to the area because the place was chaotic. The good thing is that we have some survivors who serve as our guide in locating the victims," said Corsanes.
SSgt Corsanes also guides the media who cover the areas affected by the landslides in Baybay.
Rolando Alapan, 51, is one of the local residents here who volunteered in looking for his neighbors and cousin who remain missing.
"I wanted to help the rescuers to make their jobs easier. I know they were brought here by the mud and water from the mountain," he said, walking barefoot over the piles of mud and debris.
Michelle Cipe, the village chair in Kantagnos, said she ordered an evacuation on Sunday to their barangay hall in anticipation of a flood and not landslide because the water in the river was rising abruptly.
Their neighbors went home in the morning to prepare their breakfast when the first landslide occurred which fortunately did not reach the houses.
However, the second landslide caught them by surprise when the entire village was covered with mud and water. Some managed to escape but others were trapped in their homes.
“We were alarmed when we heard a loud burst, then I saw two helicopter-like objects falling from the mountain," Michelle recalled.
The last thing she remembered was being blown away by the sudden flow of mud and water.
The first responders came from the nearby village of Ambacan who helped those who were injured and piggybacked them to safety.
City Mayor Carlos Cari said they are already looking for a relocation site for the survivors.
President Rodrigo Duterte has also assured them that their needs will be provided during his visit Friday in the city.
"I thank President Duterte for their prompt response to the needs of our community. We also want to thank all the rescuers for saving our people and recovering the bodies of those who unfortunately did not survive," said Mayor Cari.
As of Saturday, Baybay City has logged 110 deaths with 94 individuals still missing.