The Philippine Landslide, 17 Feb 2006

On February 17, 2006, a series of mudslides caused widespread damage and loss of life in the Philippine province of Southern Leyte. The deadly landslides followed a ten-day period of heavy rains and a minor earthquake of magnitude 2.6 on the Richter scale.

Overview of Disaster
The municipality of Saint Bernard was one of the worst hit areas, where twenty-three are confirmed to be dead with up to 200 estimated as dead and another 1,500 missing. Barangay Guinsaugon, a mountain village on the said municipality with 2,500 people, was almost completely destroyed.

A local elementary school was buried during one of the landslides which occurred between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. when the school was in session and full of children. Provincial Governor Rosette Lerias said that, at the time, the school had 246 students and 7 teachers, and, as of 17 February, only one child and one adult have been rescued. There were also about 100 people visiting the village for a women's group meeting.

Governor Lerias said that although several residents had left the area last week due to the fear of landslides, several of them had returned when the rains had eased.

On February 14, 2006, Governor Lerias placed the town of Sogod under a state of calamity.
 

Response of the Church
ACCT has helped the victims of the landslide by contributing S$225,489 for the aid and relief efforts