Landslide displaces over 200 families in Surigao del Norte

Over 200 families or more than 900 individuals were displaced when a landslide hit a barangay in Mainit, Surigao del Norte.

No one died or was reported hurt or missing during the landslide that hit Barangay Siana late afternoon on Saturday, May 11, 2024. However, more than 20 houses were damaged.

The residents were evacuated immediately to temporary shelters in Mainit and Tubog towns. 

“Nawala na sa akong huna-huna pero sakit gud pareha karon nga wala nami ulian. Asa naman mi paingon? Panahon nga moingon nan inga papaulion nami diri. Unya asa man mi mouli,” a resident, Anuaria Oring who lost her home, said.

The local government has already distributed initial assistance, including beddings, food, and clothes to the affected residents.

“For us ang amo lang gyud mahimo whatever that we could afford, whatever we have as far as our resources is concern,” Mainit Mayor Crisanta Mondano said.

According to one of the residents affected, Eduardo Lincona, the tailings storage facility at a mining site that collapsed due to alleged filling works may have caused the landslide.

“Dugay naman na gisugdan ng mga nag-operate sa ilang makinaryas ban ga dili pa tambakan unya moingon man sila ng wala man nagtambak. Madisturbo gyud mi og magabii kay banha ang mga sakyanan,” Lincona said.

For its part, the Greenstone Resources Corporation, the mining firm that operates in the area, said a probe has been conducted in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and another third-party expert.

The mining company also denied the allegation that it is conducting filling activity at the tailings pond.

“Sa part sa Greenstone, ato kana siyang gi-rehab kay para ma-stabilize nato na siya pero nahitabo naman hinuon ni naunhan kita sa atong rehabilitation efforts,” Greenstone Resources Corporation Assistant General Manager for Support, Joey Cameros, said.

The company is also identifying areas where evacuees could return home safely while those who have lost their homes will be provided with temporary shelters.

“Tungod wala na silay mabalhinan maghatag kita og temporaryo na rentals. Actually sa pagkakaron ang atong Community Relations Office ongoing sila nga mag evacuate ngadto sa mga rentahan nga balay,” Cameros added.

Barangay Siana Chairman, Kevin Combate, said justice must be served to the residents affected.

“The justice nga kailangan na ma-receive ng mga tao rito, dapat ma-serve po. Kami po, we are doing our best sa loob na magampanan ng GRC ang lahat ng kailangan nilang bigyan o pagbayaran,” Combate said. —GMA Regional TV