SUGPON, Ilocos Sur – A foreman and his backhoe driver died after they were buried alive by a landslide at the foot of Mount Matingin in Barangay Danac here on Monday afternoon, January 15.
MAP of Ilocos Sur with the town of Sugpon highlighted. Two persons were killed in a landslide in the municipality on Monday, January 15.
Municipal police chief Police Capt. Sonny Cabbat identified the fatalities as Ricardo Bayeng, 59, foreman and sub-contractor of Nestor General Engineering Construction, and a resident of Barangay Bongis, Ambungdolan, Tublay, Benguet, and Joseph Ramirez, 23, backhoe operator, of Barangay Cabaroan, San Emilio, Ilocos Sur.
The victims were excavating a road construction site beside the Amburayan River when they were hit by the landslide at about 2:40 p.m.
Rescuers recovered the victims’ bodies a few hours after the incident.
The victims were taken to the Rural Health Unit (RHU) where they were declared dead due to traumatic injuries caused by falling rocks.