Two people died while five people survived in a landslide in Barangay Bariis, Matnog, past 12 a.m., January 17, 2026. According to Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Ed Tumangan, the victims were sleeping when a large rock hit them.
The retrieval operation was difficult due to the large rocks and walls that covered the victims. It took five hours before their remains were recovered, past 7 a.m. “There were seven inside the house, two did not survive, next to each other in the bedroom,” said Tumangan.
According to the MDRRMO, the male victim is 22 years old while his female companion is 19 years old, a resident of Pasig City. The female reportedly works for the owner of the house. The five survivors were uninjured and were rescued safely.
The landslide was caused by softened soil caused by continuous rains. “The house was behind a mountain, there was a wall and rocks that hit them,” Tumangan explained. Although the rain was not heavy when the landslide occurred, the shearline effect had already accumulated in the area.
Currently, according to Tumangan, the rains in Matnog are only being experienced in gusty conditions. MDRRMO's monitoring is continuing for the safety of residents and to prevent further disasters in the area.
