16 rescued, 25 dead in Compostela Valley – RAPPLER – Philippine News | Multimedia | Citizen Journalism | Social Media.

BY KARLOS MANLUPIG

January 5, 2012

 PANTUKAN, Compostela Valley – Rescuers saved 16 residents here following a landslide that has killed 25 people.

It’s a tough situation. The Army could not transport heavy equipment to the area thus the troops end up doing “hand and shovel rescue,” Col. Bert Domines, commander of the Army’s 103 brigade in the province, told ANC. Dogs are also helping out in the search and rescue operations, Domines said.

Lt. Col. Leopoldo Galon, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson, told reporters here that mud and debris covered more than 50 houses in Diat 1, Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan, at around 3 am Thursday.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) of Pantukan said that 16 individuals were rescued as of 12 noon Thursday. The number of missing individuals is still undetermined.

“As of now, 6 of the 16 rescued persons are now in the hospital,” said Dr Arnulfo Lataya, spokesperson of MDRRMC.

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