At least 15 people have been killed in separate landslides in Sarangani and Lanao del Sur early Friday, according to local authorities. In Malapatan, Sarangani, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) reported 10 fatalities after soil buried homes in Barangay Poblacion. The victims came from two families, including several children. A 31-year-old man was rescued from the rubble and immediately brought to a hospital for treatment.
Malapatan Mayor Salway Sumbo Jr. said the rescue operation began around 6 a.m. after barangay officials reported the incident. The mayor noted that the landslide was not very deep, but other buried victims could not be saved. Authorities are investigating possible causes, including the impact of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on June 8, 2026, which may have weakened the soil in the area.
Provincial Government Plans Relocation
Due to the incident, the provincial government plans to relocate families living near the landslide site. An estimated 115 families from two barangays in Malapatan have been affected by heavy rains.
In Barangay Ngingir, Calanogas, Lanao del Sur, five people died and six others are missing after another landslide. The Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office (LDSPPO) said two people were also injured. The landslide was triggered by continuous heavy rain in the area.
Search and Rescue Ongoing
Search and rescue operations continue for six people believed buried under their homes. Authorities are struggling to reach the affected area because some road sections are impassable to vehicles.
