Death toll from Itogon, Benguet landslide reaches 51

The death toll from the landslide that hit Barangay Ucab in Itogon, Benguet reached 51 following the recovery of two bodies on Monday morning.

FLASH: Death toll sa landslide sa Itogon, Benguet, umakyat na sa 51 matapos marekober ang dalawa pang bangkay ngayong umaga. | via @JonathanAndal_ pic.twitter.com/uZI2ptwmzt

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 24, 2018

Rescuers were still looking for 17 individuals from ground zero, according to a report on Dobol B sa News TV by Jonathan Andal.

2 pang bangkay, narekober ngayong umaga sa 'ground zero' ng landslide sa Bgy. Ucab, Itogon, Benguet; death toll, umakyat na sa 51, mga nawawala nasa 17 pa @dzbb pic.twitter.com/nSRjqUwxbo

— Jonathan Andal (@JonathanAndal_) September 24, 2018

Saleema Refran reported on GMA News TV's News To Go that the two bodies were found at the site where the bunkhouses converted into a chapel by miners were located before the landslide.

Rescuers fear that the bodies of those lost in the landslide may not be recovered at all in time due to decomposition, as some of the bodies recovered recently already had missing parts.

Brigadier General Leopoldo A. Imbang Jr. told GMA News that they recovered 10 bodies on Saturday and seven more on Sunday upon reaching the site.

Rescuers still need to dig through five meters of mud and clear 200 meters of debris from the area.

In an earlier interview on ANC, presidential political advisor Francis Tolentino cited a report from Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana indicating that the total death toll in the municipality has reached 75. —Rie Takumi/KG/RSJ, GMA News