Death toll in Itogon reaches 35, including 13 in mine camp landslide

The death toll in Itogon, Benguet due to the effects of Typhoon Ompong has reached 35.

According to Mariz Umali's reports on "24 Oras" and State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, 13 have been confirmed dead, three have been rescued hurt while 60 remained missing.

"Ang main concentration po natin talaga  is level 0-70 ng first gate," Itogon councilor Arnel Bangawan told GMA News.

"Forty and above ang missing pa sa area na ito," he added.

Aside from the heavy rains brought by Typhoon Ompong, the local official said the small scale mining in the area also could have been a factor.

"Contributory yung ibang small scale miners natin dito... syempre if you are to make a tunnel, you have to dig holes dito sa mountain," Bangawan said.

"Siguro hindi na kaya ng surface," he added. —NB, GMA News