At least 20 killed in landslide in Baybay, Leyte —police

At least 20 people were killed in a landslide unleashed in Baybay City, Leyte by persistent heavy rainfall brought by Tropical Depression Agaton, the city's police chief said Monday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Baybay City police chief Police Colonel Jomen Collado said that dead bodies were recovered from Barangay Mailhi, Barangay Maypatag, Barangay Bunga and Barangay Kantagnos.

“Alam na ng mga kaanak ng mga nasawi ang nangyari,” Collado said.

MORE: Nagpapatuloy pa rin ang search & rescue operation sa mga napaulat na nawawala matapos ang nangyaring landslide sa 4 na barangay sa Baybay City, Leyte — PCol. Jomen Collado, Chief, Baybay City, Leyte Police. pic.twitter.com/ZnhKaoF8DR

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) April 11, 2022

At President Rodrigo Duterte's Talk to the People, National Disaster Risk-Reduction and Management Council executive director Ricardo Jalad said the unofficial death toll stood at 14.

“Mayroon unofficial report na natanggap tayo diyan sa Baybay Leyte na mayroong labing-apat na patay, and maraming barangay ang merong casualties," Jalad said.

“Although hindi pa indicated sa situational report, maraming patay dahil sa landslide. On-going ang rescue and retrieval operations,” Jalad said.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said authorities are struggling to rescue the residents because some roads were still not passable.

“According sa report on the ground, nag-landslide po doon sa Barangay Kantagnos ng Baybay City," Año said.

"Almost malaking area po ang na-landslide kaya po nahihirapan pong pumasok ang mga equipment ng ating DPWH, Bureau of Fire Protection, pati PNP. Sobrang lambot po ng lupa,” he added.

Authorities are continuing search and retrieval operations for six individuals who were still missing after Agaton’s devastation.

Collado said they are still confirming if other persons are still missing.

Agaton made landfall over Calicoan Island in Guiuan at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.

PAGASA placed 11 areas under Signal No. 1 late Monday afternoon even as Agaton made landfall over Basey, Samar. — BM/NB, GMA News