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Typhoon Mangkhut: landslide buries dozens in miners' bunkhouse Typhoon Mangkhut: 100 people presumed dead after landslide
(about 4 hours later)
At least 34 bodies have been recovered and another 30 people are still missing after a landslide caused by Typhoon Mangkhut buried a miners’ bunkhouse in the Philippines where dozens of people had taken shelter. Almost 100 people have been presumed dead after a landslide caused by Typhoon Mangkhut enveloped a small mining town in the Philippines and buried homes and a miners’ bunkhouse where dozens of people had taken shelter.
The landslide struck a remote town in Itogon in the mountain province of Benguet, about 125 miles north of Manila. Benguet was one of the worst affected areas after a category five typhoon swept through the Philippine region of Luzon on Saturday, wreaking destruction on homes and crops, and causing massive flooding. The landslide struck the remote mountain town of Itogon in the mountain province of Benguet, about 125 miles north of Manila. Benguet was one of the worst affected areas after a category five typhoon swept through the Philippine region of Luzon on Saturday, wreaking destruction on homes and crops, and causing massive flooding.
More than 60 people had taken refuge in a former warehouse bunkhouse, now converted into a chapel, at the height of the typhoon. However, when the storm hit, part of the mountain collapsed on top of the building, enveloping it in mud and trapping those inside. At the height of the typhoon, dozens of people – mostly miners and their families – had taken refuge in a chapel, housed in a former warehouse bunkhouse in the belief they would be protected. However, when the storm hit, part of the mountain collapsed on top of the building and surrounding homes, enveloping them in earth and rocks.
Rescuers used shovels and their bare hands to claw through mounds of rocky soil on Monday. Hundreds of rescuers in rows formed a human chain to pass rocks, debris and tree trunks out of the search area. By Monday night, 36 bodies had been recovered in Itogon, with 12 pulled from the ruins of the chapel. The area’s death toll was expected to rise with over 50 people still missing. Devastated family members of those buried in the landslide gathered at the site in the aftermath but hopes of finding any survivors had diminished by Monday evening, as rescuers paused efforts when night fell.
“I am 99% sure the people there are dead,” said the mayor of Itogon, Victorio Palangdan. “We will continue until we get them all.”
About 300 rescuers used shovels and their bare hands to claw through mounds of rocky soil on Monday. Hundreds of rescuers in rows formed a human chain to pass rocks, debris and tree trunks out of the search area.
The massive landslide left a gaping gash in the hillside that was studded with small homes topped with rusting metals roofs. With damaged roads preventing the entry of heavy equipment, soldiers, police and miners used shovels to channel water from a nearby stream to loosen the earth.The massive landslide left a gaping gash in the hillside that was studded with small homes topped with rusting metals roofs. With damaged roads preventing the entry of heavy equipment, soldiers, police and miners used shovels to channel water from a nearby stream to loosen the earth.
It was excruciatingly slow work, as anguished relatives watched and waited for word on their missing loved ones. Recovered bodies were draped in fabric and lined up in a row at a makeshift tent on a road above the bunkhouse.It was excruciatingly slow work, as anguished relatives watched and waited for word on their missing loved ones. Recovered bodies were draped in fabric and lined up in a row at a makeshift tent on a road above the bunkhouse.
There have been mixed reports about the exact body count. At least 34 people are confirmed dead, according to the Philippine defence secretary, Delfin Lorenzana. He said at least 30 people were still missing, adding that rescue teams were working “as fast as they can” and that there might still be survivors. Jonalyn Felipe’s husband, Dennis, a small-scale gold miner in Itogon, was among those buried in the landslide. She said she had tried to make him return to their home in northern Quirino province on Friday as the powerful typhoon approached but he had refused.
But according to the presidential spokesman, Harry Roque, at least 43 bodies have been pulled from the mud. “I was insisting because the storm was strong but he told me not to worry because he said they’re safe there,” said a weeping Felipe, adding that her husband was last seen chatting with fellow miners in the chapel before it was hit by the collapsing mountainside.
Ricardo Jalad, the Philippines civil defence chief, said rescuers were racing to try to find survivors in the mud. The military and police were being supported by rescue teams, engineers and geologists, he said.Ricardo Jalad, the Philippines civil defence chief, said rescuers were racing to try to find survivors in the mud. The military and police were being supported by rescue teams, engineers and geologists, he said.
The environment secretary, Roy Cimatu, flew to the area on Monday to investigate what had happened. “We will not stop until we will recover [people] – whether they are still alive – in the mining area in the place of that incident,” he said.The environment secretary, Roy Cimatu, flew to the area on Monday to investigate what had happened. “We will not stop until we will recover [people] – whether they are still alive – in the mining area in the place of that incident,” he said.
The mayor of Itogon, Victorio Palangdan, said the police had tried to make the miners – who were working on the disused goldmine illegally – leave the bunkhouse before the typhoon hit, but they had refused. “They thought they were really safe there,” the mayor said on Sunday. On Monday he told reporters: “We believe that those people there, maybe 99%, are already dead.” Palangdan said the police had tried to make the miners – who were working on the disused goldmine illegally – leave the bunkhouse chapel before the typhoon hit, but they had refused. “They thought they were really safe there,” the mayor said on Sunday.
At least 64 people have been confirmed dead across the Philippines, with the death toll expected to rise, and an estimated 5.7 million people in the country are thought to have been affected by the storm. The livelihoods of thousands has been devastated as crops were flooded just a few weeks before the harvest. At least 64 people have been confirmed dead across the Philippines, with the death toll expected to rise, and an estimated 5.7 million people in the country said to have been affected by the storm. The livelihoods of thousands has been devastated as crops were flooded just a few weeks before the harvest.
The storm hit the densely populated southern coast of China on Sunday night. More than 2.4 million people were evacuated, and four have died, according to Chinese state media. The storm is now headed for Yunnan province, a popular tourist area.The storm hit the densely populated southern coast of China on Sunday night. More than 2.4 million people were evacuated, and four have died, according to Chinese state media. The storm is now headed for Yunnan province, a popular tourist area.
The Hong Kong Observatory said Mangkhut was the most powerful cyclone to hit the city since 1979.The Hong Kong Observatory said Mangkhut was the most powerful cyclone to hit the city since 1979.
Agence France-Presse contributed to this reportAgence France-Presse contributed to this report
Typhoon MangkhutTyphoon Mangkhut
Natural disasters and extreme weatherNatural disasters and extreme weather
PhilippinesPhilippines
ChinaChina
Hong KongHong Kong
Asia PacificAsia Pacific
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