33 Philippine miners dead in typhoon-triggered landslides

At least 33 miners were confirmed dead and another 29 remained missing after landslides triggered by Typhoon Mangkhut buried mining settlements in Itogon town in the northern Philippine province of Benguet, authorities said on Sunday.

The disaster struck as the powerful typhoon brought heavy rains to the region, triggering landslides that swept through mining areas and blocked roads, hampering rescue and relief operations.

Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said two bunkhouses in Ucab village, where around 100 people were believed to be staying, were buried under mud and debris on Saturday.

“I can't begin to accept this, but it looks like the casualties here are going to go up to at least 100,” Palangdan said in local radio interviews, warning that the death toll could rise as rescue teams reach the affected areas.

Most residents of Itogon depend on small-scale mining for their livelihood, while others are engaged in farming. Many miners live near the mining sites with their families, leaving communities particularly vulnerable to landslides and other hazards during extreme weather.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines deployed troops to assist local authorities with rescue and recovery operations. However, rescuers faced major challenges because the buried structures were located on steep terrain, making it difficult to reach people trapped beneath the mud and rubble.

The landslides also blocked several roads, restricting access to the affected areas and slowing the movement of emergency teams and equipment.

Meanwhile, the regional police of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) said at least 49 people had died across the region, which bore the brunt of Typhoon Mangkhut. Fourteen people were reported missing and 32 others injured.

The Cordillera Administrative Region comprises seven provinces and is the only landlocked administrative region in the Philippines. Its regional centre is Baguio City, popularly known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

Authorities continued rescue and retrieval operations as the full scale of the destruction caused by the typhoon was still being assessed.