GUINSAUGON, Philippines, 3 March 2006 — Rescue workers will end today their search for bodies buried in the massive landslide that wiped out a village in the central Philippine island of Leyte on Feb. 17, an official said yesterday.
Southern Leyte provincial Gov. Rosette Lerias said the 300-hectare wasteland that was the village of Guinsaugon will be turned into a sanctuary where no new construction will be allowed due to safety and sanitation concerns.
“The Philippine Army will end the search today but will not leave the area,” Lerias said.
A total of 140 bodies have been retrieved, with the last one found Tuesday, and 972 people were still missing and feared dead, she said.
Representatives of the Indonesian and US governments — which still have humanitarian contingents in the province — will give statements, along with Philippine officials.
“Tomorrow we will have our commemorative ceremony, then it will be turned into a sanctuary,” Lerias said. “We will have to green the area so we can control the soil.”
Maj. Gen. Bonifacio Ramos said soldiers are also distributing relief goods to victims, constructing evacuation centers and securing the disaster area.
US Marines, who have been helping in the search efforts, on Sunday withdrew most of their forces, which peaked at about 600. But a small contingent stayed behind for humanitarian work, Marine Capt. Burrel Parmer said earlier.
Other international groups also have left earlier, including search teams from Taiwan, Malaysia, Turkey and Spain. A contingent from Indonesia, which will provide mainly medical services to evacuees, will remain for a month.
A wall of mud, boulders and trees from the collapse of a nearby mountainside on Feb.17 buried the village of Guinsaugon, including its elementary school, where more than 240 students and teachers were holding classes.
Among those who perished were more than 200 pupils and seven teachers of Guinsaugon Elementary School. Only the Grade II teacher, Natividad Pia, survived because she was in Cebu City when the tragedy happened.
Education Department officials have allowed classes in elementary schools at Saint Bernard town remained suspended until today in view of the tragedy.
Leyte, a mountainous island southeast of Manila, lies on unstable ground straddling the Philippine Fault, which zigzags from the north to the south of the country. With input from AP
