A teenage boy died after rocks and mud fell their house, subdivision developer blamed for incident.
Landslide occurred in Barangay Tawason, Mandaue City, hit three houses and killed a teenage boy. The area has been identified as a landslide-prone area by the City Government. The heavy rain that lasted for about three hours also caused floods in other parts of the city. The mud and rocks buried the house of Cariquitan family, which took the life of their family member.
Vicente Cariquitan, 13 year-old and brother Vladimer Cariquitan, 19 year-old were watching television when the landslide occurred. Vicente died when the riprap of a subdivision under construction gave way. Vladimer fortunately survived the landslide that buried their house. The family only rented a room in Barangay Tawason, Mandaue City.
Rescuers from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation and Accident Control and Emergency Rescue Team immediately respond on the site where landslide occur. They were able to find and rescue Vladimir, five hours after the incident, however, wasn’t able to recover the 13 year-old Vicente alive. Affected people specially Cariquitan family blamed subdivision developer for the said tragedy and urged company to shoulder hospitalization of Vladimer as well as burial expenses for Vicente.
In statement of City Administrator James Abadia, City will implement an investigation in order to find out if subdivision developer or contractor committed lapses. “In the interest of the residents, we will find out what appropriate action is necessary. The City will also look for a temporary shelter for the affected families.”
Landslide refers to a geological phenomenon that includes a wide range of ground movements. It occur when the stability of the slope changes, from a stable to an unstable condition. Many factor contributes causes of landslide, including groundwater, erosion of the toe of a slope by rivers or ocean waves, weakening of a slope through saturation by snow melt, glaciers melting, or heavy rains, earthquakes adding loads to barely stable slope, earthquake-caused liquefaction destabilizing slopes and volcanic eruptions.
Human activities also contributes to this geological phenomenon. This includes deforestation, cultivation and construction, blasting, earthwork which alters the shape of a slope, construction and agricultural or forestry activities such as logging. IMAGE/Sun.Star Foto/Alan Tangcawan
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