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Leyte landslide survivor mourns loss of 2-year-old son

A mother who survived a massive landslide that buried an entire village in Leyte province is grieving the death of her 2-year-old son, who was among the victims of the disaster.

Daisy Mae Villaroel, 23, said she was at home with her son Zharyn and her husband when the landslide triggered by heavy rains hit their village of Pilar in Abuyog town on April 12.

She said she heard a loud rumble and saw rocks and soil coming down from the mountain. She grabbed her son and ran outside, but they were swept away by the debris.

"I tried to hold on to him, but he slipped from my arms. I shouted his name, but I couldn't see him anymore," she said.

Villaroel said she was able to cling to a coconut tree until rescuers arrived. She was taken to a hospital where she was treated for injuries.

She later learned that her son's body was found by searchers near their house. Her husband also survived the landslide but suffered a broken leg.

"I don't know how to move on. He was my only child. He was so sweet and smart. He always smiled at me," she said.

Villaroel is among hundreds of residents from Pilar village who are now staying at an evacuation center at Abuyog Community College covered court. She said she hopes to receive assistance from the government and other groups to rebuild their lives.

The landslide that buried Pilar village killed at least 27 people and injured dozens more, according to local authorities. It also damaged houses, roads, bridges and crops in the area.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said debris covered 80 percent of the village, making it difficult for rescuers to reach some areas.

The Department of Health (DOH) has sent medical teams and supplies to assist the survivors and prevent outbreaks of diseases.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has declared a state of calamity in Abuyog town and other areas affected by Tropical Depression Bising, which brought heavy rains that triggered landslides and floods across Eastern Visayas region.¹²³

Source: 3/7/2023(1) Leyte town landslide survivors tell stories of tragic day. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172222 Accessed 3/7/2023.
(2) Leyte tragedy: Mom recalls horror in losing 2-year-old son in landslide .... https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/13/leyte-tragedy-mom-recalls-horror-in-losing-2-year-old-son-in-landslide/ Accessed 3/7/2023.
(3) Mom recalls horror of losing 2-year-old son in landslide. https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/manila-bulletin/20220414/281603834005655 Accessed 3/7/2023.

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