Fearing heavy rains from Tropical Storm Megi could cause flooding, residents of a Filipino fishing village hiked to higher ground and pitched tents. They never thought that the mountain they were about to collapse on would collapse.
“Stay there, you’re safer here”
Fisherman Fernando Rosquetes asked his family to climb the mountain behind their coastal village of Pilar in central Leyte province. I told them “Stay there, you’re safer here” Mr Rosquetes told AFP.
But on Tuesday, the rain-soaked mountain collapsed, throwing a wall of mud and dirt over Pilar and washing houses into the sea, burying most of the dwellings. On Wednesday, Mr Rosquetes faced the excruciating task of identifying the battered bodies of his family in front of a crowd.
Body bags containing two of his children, a grandchild and a daughter-in-law were placed on the black sand along with 22 other people. “Now they’re all gone” sobbed the 47-year-old. “I just want to be buried in another landslide.”
“Earth would catch up with me”
At least 26 people were killed and around 150 were missing in Pilar, one of many villages in the disaster area leveled by landslides caused by Megi.
At least 80 people have died across the country, but the number is expected to rise as research continues. In the nearby city of Abuyog, where survivors and the dead were taken by boats, rescuers laid the covered bodies on the ground surrounded by local residents searching for their missing relatives.
Also read: Philippines. Storm Megi death toll rises to 80
Some cried after opening a black bag that revealed a familiar face, while others took photos with their phones.
Edgar Suganob, who has relatives in Pilar, said many families retreated to higher ground Tuesday morning, hours before the landslide. “They were afraid that the mountain would collapse on them”he said.
Get away from floods
Joshua Binondo, 21, stayed behind with his father to protect their home while his mother and four siblings scaled the hillside to escape the floods. Then she gave in.
“I heard a loud explosion and we ran to save our lives.” said Joshua Binondo, remembering the sound of the earth engulfing the village. “Earth was about to catch up with me and then I can’t remember anything.”
Her father, mother and three of her siblings died in the disaster. His grandfather is also missing. A 17-year-old sister miraculously survived.
Outrigger boats were used to rescue survivors and roads leading to this village of 400 people are blocked by landslides. However, authorities said there was little hope of finding anyone else alive.
Philippines. Villagers swallowed by the mountain that protected them from the megastorm EXPAND