CEBU CITY – Two persons died and nine others were injured in two landslides during a heavy downpour here on Sunday, September 1.
A HOUSE is badly damaged after a riprap collapsed in Barangay San Jose, Cebu City at dawn on Sunday, September 1. (Calvin D. Cordova)
The first landslide happened in Barangay Tisa where 17-year-old Jemimah Ibuña was buried alive after a riprap collapsed on her house past 3 a.m.
Ibuña was found dead by personnel of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-7 during search and rescue operations.
Her five neighbors were injured during the landslide and were taken to the Cebu City Medical Center.
At least nine families were displaced by the landslide and evacuated to the Tisa National High School here.
Harold Alcontin, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the downpour that lasted for about nine hours may have caused the soil to loosen.
The second landslide occurred in Barangay San Jose around eight hours later.
Investigation showed that 26-year-old Claire Dosdos was breastfeeding her baby when a riprap gave in and collapsed on their house.
Four other residents were injured.
Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia visited the victims of the landslides.
Garcia first went to Barangay Tisa where he ordered an immediate investigation to check if someone should be held liable for the two landslides.
He said he gave Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the City Council Committee on Environment, until Friday to come up with a report on the landslides.
Garcia said the committee must check if the riprap that was being constructed had necessary permits.
He assured that necessary assistance will be given to the affected families.
Garcia also visited the family of Dosdos.
Dosdos shielded her six-month old baby when rubble from the collapsed riprap started burying their house.