By HENRY EMPEÑO | 

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The second victim at the Aparri Road landslide was finally found last night, July 23, at about 9:30 p.m. The body was pinned under a fence and retrieval operation was completed only at 11:19 p.m.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has withheld the name of the fatality, pending notification of his next of kin.

Initial information indicated that the victim was a male employee of the Vieva Sun International Trading and Development Corp. along Aparri Road in Cubi Point.

The survivor, who was pulled out of the rubble at 6:52 a.m. on Monday, July 23, was identified as Mariel Rillen, male, 21 years old. He works as a mechanic at the company.

Two other persons were rescued from the Vieva Sun compound at 3:52 a.m., July 23. They were identified as Butzer Torres, male, 21 years old, and employee of Vieva Sun; and Lovely Joy Agcaoli, 17 years old. Both suffered abrasions.

Torres and Agcaoli were inside a truck parked outside the compound when the landslide occurred. They escaped from the truck before it was engulfed by the mudslide.

The SBMA continues clearing operations at the landslide site today, after it was temporarily halted last night following the retrieval of the body.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma thanked various business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport which provided payloaders, dump trucks, and other equipment used in the clearing operations, as well as food and other supplies for the use of rescue workers.

The SBMA official also extended appreciation to close to 100 troops from the Philippine Navy who helped in sandbagging operations to secure the landslide area.

At least three landslides were reported along major roads in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone because of heavy rains spawned by Typhoon Josie and “habagat” or the southwest monsoon starting last Sunday.

Since Sunday morning, concerned SBMA departments and emergency units have been clearing the roads of debris from landslides and erosion, as well as fallen trees.

But erosions and minor landslides continue to be reported throughout the Freeport Zone, as slopes became saturated with rainwater in the past few days.

 

TOP PHOTO: One died here: the massive landslide at Aparri Road in the Subic Bay Freeport (Photo by Henry Empeño)