MASARA, Philippines: A rain-induced landslide hit Masara village in Davao de Oro province on Tuesday night, engulfing houses and two buses carrying miners.
At least 20 people remain trapped inside the buses, with rescue efforts hampered by unstable terrain. Six bodies have been recovered so far, with 31 others injured, including two in critical condition.
Teams are manually digging through mud due to safety concerns about using heavy machinery.
Hundreds from Masara and nearby villages have been evacuated to shelters as heavy rains continue.
The landslide appears to have occurred after recent heavy rainfall and potential deforestation above the affected area. An earthquake further complicated the situation, temporarily halting rescue efforts.
The gold mine operated by Apex Mining is assisting with the rescue, while operations have been scaled back. This tragedy follows on the heels of similar landslides and floods in the region last week, claiming at least 18 lives.
The Philippines is prone to natural disasters due to its mountainous terrain, heavy rainfall, and vulnerability to climate change.
