SUBIC, Zambales — Five youngsters were confirmed dead in separate landslides in Barangay Wawandue and San Lorenzo Village, Barangay Matain here at the height of typhoon Odette Monday morning.
The still unidentified victims were retrieved after hours of digging by rescue teams and barangay workers.
Retrieval operation are on-going in these areas for other victims. Mayor Jefferson Khonghun has called on the sanggunian members to convene and declare this town under a state of calamity since about 60 percent of its area remained flooded.
Meanwhile, hundreds of commuters and vehicles were stranded when the bridge between Olongapo-Gapan Road and Subic town was declared not passable due to possible damage on the bridge foundation.
The road in Barangay Cawag was also declared impassable due to landslide. Hanjin workers were also stranded until the road is cleared of boulders.
Floodwaters in this barangay reached one-story house deep, according to Rey Miranda, secretary for the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Council in Subic.
More than 500 families along this coastal barangay were evacuated in various evacuation centers in the upland area.
