35 families in Naga City leave homes for possible landslide

Some 35 families, or 128 individuals, in Purok Riverside, Barangay Cantao-an, Naga City, Cebu were forced to leave homes due to the mountain slope that sustained cracks.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) advised the city government to temporarily evacuate the people for possible landslides that would endanger their lives.

The MGB, with City of Naga Police Station chief Lt. Col. William Homoc, Engr. James Generale from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office(CENRO), and Pronie Ubas of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) conducted an inspection.

During the inspection, it was found out that, in the event of a landslide, rocks would bury the locals as well as the Metro Cebu Expressway, which is under construction.

Generale revealed that he first spotted the mountain slope breaking at the end of September, but it wasn't until October that it grew bigger.

The affected residents are temporarily housed at Cantao-an Elementary School, and the city government will supply them with food and water.

Residents there said they heard rumbling noises coming from the mountain at night, which made them decide to leave the area.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia ordered to temporarily close to motorists the stretches of Metro Cebu Expressway, especially during these holidays.

"I have asked the police provincial director Colonel Percival Zorilla to alert all the PNP in the area of Naga to put up a barrier so that we will first close off this road until there will be enough measures to be put in place to safeguard the lives of motorists," the governor said.

The portions of the expressway have been closed from Handog Industrial Gases Riverside III, Inayagan, Barangay Cantao-an to Sugbu ACS Trading in Sitio Upper Bayong, Barangay Inayagan, Naga City.

Motorists may use the diversion roads in Brooklyn, Barangay Naalad, Naga, and in Tungkop, Minglanilla.

Due to heavy rains in the past few weeks, portions of the road collapsed and cracked, and minor landslides were also recorded.