Army starts airlifting trapped families in St. Bernard

By CMO Battalion, 8ID PA
January 6, 2011

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar – Landslides and other road slips gets worst with the continuous down pour of rains in the whole region that the access to withdraw the trapped families in the two (2) remaining barangays of St Bernard, Southern Leyte is hampered.

First Lieutenant Jerson Palawan, ground commander of the rescue units in St Bernard said that Brgy Tabon-tabon and Mahayag are still inaccessible at present due to several landslides and eroded mountains along the road.

He also said that evacuating the trapped families by land is not possible and only by air is feasible.  Two (2) UH-1H helicopters of the Philippine Air Force are now being utilized to assist the rescue units in the ground in pulling out the trapped families to safer grounds.

46 families had been evacuated yesterday before the total closure of the roads and 291 individuals from above mentioned barangays were able to evacuate by air today and now in stable situation at St Bernard Central School.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Palawan’s unit also tried to make any possible means to pull out some families that can be evacuated by land.  40 families or a total of 180 individuals from Brgy Malinao crossing over the river to Brgy Catmon were able to withdraw and now in safer condition.

As of press time, air evacuation is still on progress despite of the fact that heavy downpour of rains, flooding and mud slides are continuously threatening the localities.

The DRU of 19IB is closely coordinating PNP, MDCC and Municipal Rescue Team for quick and fast extraction of the families still trapped in the three mentioned affected barangay.