By Matthew Go
A landslide in Barangay Matinik, Lopez, Quezon, destroyed 50 homes and displaced over 140 residents, prompting a state of calamity, the Lopez Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) reported Sunday, December 15.
According to the MDRRMO, the landslide struck Purok 2 on Saturday night, completely destroying 35 houses and partially damaging 15 others. Infrastructure, including roads, water systems, train tracks, and a nearby school, also sustained severe damage.
The landslide was caused by “slump movement” triggered by continuous heavy rainfall over the past four days, which saturated the soil. The MDRRMO noted that rainfall has been persistent for weeks with only brief pauses, contributing to the instability of the land.
The ground movement displaced portions of land by several meters, twisting train tracks and leaving fissures across the area. A team from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) has been deployed to conduct an assessment of the site.
The MDRRMO reported that 146 individuals, or over 50 families, have been evacuated as a precaution. Forced evacuations have been carried out in the affected areas, with authorities implementing strict restrictions amid continued rainfall and the risk of further land movement.