A rockfall incident at Sitio Mahaba, Barangay Basiao in Catbalogan City, Samar left a two-year-old girl dead and three others injured, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported on Tuesday.
The tragedy unfolded on Sunday afternoon, December 29, 2024, when a sudden loud noise was followed by a rockslide that impacted two homes in the area.
According to reports from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the incident was triggered by several days of light to moderate rainfall, which may have weakened the slope and led to the catastrophic rockfall.
Two houses were affected—one completely destroyed and the other partially damaged. Four individuals from two families were directly impacted, prompting nearby households to temporarily evacuate to safer locations.
The two-year-old girl did not survive and a three-month-old baby, also female, was hurt. A 35-year-old man and 30-year-old woman were also injured. OCD Eastern Visayas provided hygiene and family kits to the victims.
In coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the OCD issued a memorandum urging local government units (LGUs) to conduct preemptive evacuations in susceptible areas and take appropriate actions in response to the ongoing weather systems.
OCD Eastern Visayas also directed the CDRRMO to advise nearby households to temporarily evacuate to ensure their safety as search and rescue operations and assessments continue.
