BAUKO, Mt. Province – A 59-year old man was unearthed from a landslide in Sitio Boga, Monamon Sur in this town on Thursday morning, July 28, in what could be the first recorded death in Cordillera region after a magnitude 7 earthquake hit northern Luzon on Wednesday, July 27.

According to the report of Mt. Province Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMO), the victim was identified as Andres Sagayo, 59, of Sitio Pactil Barangay Monamon Sur, Bauko, Mt. Province.
It was learned that the victim attended a wake in the adjacent Sitio when he was covered by a collapsed part of the mountain around 10:00 in the morning.
The residents, police and volunteers immediately conducted a rescue operation and the victim was pulled from the collapsed ground around 11:30 in the morning.
The victim was immediately rushed to the Lutheran Hospital in Abatan, Buguias, Benguet, but he was declared dead on arrival.
According to the PDRRMO, the landslide that covered the victim may have been caused by the earthquake and the ensuing aftershocks.
Provincial Administrator Franklin Odsey called on residents to stay vigilant and proactive, while the aftershocks and rains that are causing the mountains to soften continue to be felt.
Those living near landslide prone areas were also advised to temporarily leave the area to avoid any incidents of landslides.
A total of 699 families and 3,126 individuals were affected by the earthquake in the province, with the largest number being in the town of Bontoc where 314 families or 1,822 individuals were affected.
In Bauko, 208 families or 852 individuals were also affected.
These families were being monitored and were given family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera.