By Malou Dungo
SUBIC, Zambales, (PNA) — Residents in areas where the landslides occurred as triggered by heavy rainfall in the past two days are no longer allowed to return to their homes,
This, after the city government on Tuesday declared those areas as permanent danger zones.
Town Mayor Jefferson Khonghun said that barangays Wawandue and San Isidro will be off limits following the landslides that took the lives of 17 residents.
The fatalities were identified as Brian Gabby A. Bueno, Jenaly E. Bueno, John Clifford E. Bueno, 11; Seanly Josh Bueno, 9; Charlyn E. Bueno, 8; Merlyn Ednalaguim and Ian Dimalanta, 4, all residents of Barangay San Isidro.
Other casualties were identified as Ryan Ecujardas, 7; Kian Ecujardas, 5; Rolly Ecujardas, 30; Jesal Bacos, 24; Danilo Cuanan, 43; Juvelyn Cuanan, 19; Daniela Cuanan, 12; Daniel Cuanan, 10; Doray Cuanan; 5; and Joshua Ytak, 8, all residents of Barangay Wawandue.
“We already relocated the residents living in those areas and we would no longer allowed them to come back there,” he said.
Khonghun said that although the areas where the landslides occurred are not on the geo-hazard maps provided by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the continuous heavy rains triggered the landslides that buried several houses.
“This is the first in the history of Subic that the landslides occurred in those areas,” he said.
Khonghun also cited the need to dredge the Santo Tomas River, which is being blamed for the flashfloods in the town.
He appealed the national government for more relief assistance as thousands of individuals were affected by flooding in several barangays in Subic amid heavy monsoon rains.
At present, there are some 128 families or 592 individuals are staying at evacuation centers, 78 families or 303 individuals at the Calapacuan Elementary school and 50 families or 289 individuals at the Wawandue sports complex.