Pregnant woman, 3 kids killed by landslide amid rains in Agoncillo, Batangas

A pregnant woman and three young members of her family were buried by a landslide among heavy rains in Agoncillo, Batangas.

According to a “24 Oras” report by Paul Hernandez of GMA Regional TV, the ground collapsed on the hillside of Barangay Subic Ilaya, Agoncillo, Batangas, during the height of the rains brought by Super Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon.

The woman was 28, while the children were nine, 13, and 15 years old.

“Violet na ho sila, magkakayapos,” said a resident, Grace Cardona. 

(They were violet, they’re embracing each other.)

According to the barangay personnel, the family had been told to evacuate, so they were shocked when they were found in the home.  

The retrieval operations took more than three hours before their bodies were finally recovered. 

Their family mourned the tragedy.

“Kami nga po doon pa galing noong pumutok ang bulkan sa isla, pero nakatawid kami ng dagat. Pero sa iisang gabi, bakit binawi nila sa akin ang lahat,” said Juliana Rimas, mother of the pregnant victim. 

(When the volcano erupted on the Island, we managed to cross the sea but in one night, why did they take everything back from me.) 

The local government of Agoncillo said it would extend support to the family of the victims. 

Meanwhile, the authorities evacuated at least ten more households in the area.

In Nasugbu, Batangas, a goto seller was killed after being hit by a falling acacia tree on Tuesday night. 

“Malakas po ang hangin kagabi e, mga 6:30 po nang gabi,” said Rolando Sucgang, LDRRM Officer 2, Nasugbu. 

(The wind was strong last night, around 6:30 in the evening.)

GMA Regional TV is still trying to get the statement of the family of the deceased.

Meanwhile, Nasugbu-Magallanes Road in Barangay Bulihan is closed to all types of vehicles due to scattered chunks of rock caused by the landslide. 

NDRRMO said rocks and soil fell on Monday.

“Nakipag-coordinate po kami sa DPWH, para doon and then we cordon the area at saka para hindi matawiran ang ano ng atin citizen,” said Sucgang. 

(We coordinated with the DPWH for that and then cordoned the area and prevented our citizens from crossing.)

As of Wednesday, there were no reported accidents due to the landslide. 

The report also noted that authorities are continuously monitoring the area. — Sherylin Untalan/BM, GMA Integrated News