No more bodies found: Authorities set to clear Maco landslide site

No more human remains were dug out from the landslide site in Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro since Sunday, February 18, 2024.

Authorities said the team will try to clear the area completely by Saturday.

“If ma-maintain natin ‘yung number of heavy equipment natin na magagamit during the operation, hopefully, by Friday o Saturday, matatapos na po ang ating operation. But, that will actually depend on the recommendation pa rin ng ating incident commanders, ng ating Incident Management Team,” Mawab Municipal Information Officer Jiesyl Mae Tan said.

As of 7 p.m. on February 20, 2024, the number of bodies found at the landslide site reached 93. At least 79 have been turned over to their families. Fourteen remained unidentified.

The Incident Management Team clarified that body parts retrieved were among the 98 fatalities announced previously.

Eight individuals are still missing, as of this writing.

“If we counter-check po, we have kasi 14 unidentified bodies and body parts. And if we counter-check it with the eight missing, maybe, just maybe po, baka itong eight missing individuals natin ay andun na po sa unidentified body and body parts po,” Tan added.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said evacuees may return home to the area declared safe after the 15-day period given by the Department of Education (DepEd) had lapsed.

The evacuees have taken shelter at schools since the landslide on February 6, 2024.

“Base sa declaration sa MDRRMO, pwede na mobalik didto sa mga safe nga lugar and kadtong pwede na mobalik. So, unsa’y mahitabo sa uban nga katong dili safety, mao to siya ang atoang gina-inventory kaya para ibutang nato didto sa atoang proposed nga tent city,” Response Cluster Resource Center Camp Manager Joel Penido said.

However, the local government of Maco and Mawab will ask DepEd for an extension particularly for evacuees from Barangays Masara and Mainit as their temporary shelters are still being prepared.

“Sa tanang mga resources nga naa sa gobyerno nga pwedeng gamiton sa mga evacuees, atong ihinay-hinay og ayuda ngadto nila kay dili pud ta gusto nga sa ilahang kasub-anan, dili pud nato matubag ang ilang mga panginahanglan,” Mawab Mayor Ruperto Gonzaga said. —GMA Regional TV