Hill collapse kills one, injures three

(video courtesy of Taburnok)

Authorities here reported that a construction worker died while three others were injured following a landslide caused by a hillside collapsing in in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, Aklan.

Initial reports from Police Lt. Colonel Don Dicksie de Dios, acting chief of the Malay Philippine National Police disclosed that the workers are at the side of the road constructing a canal system when the trimmed side of the hill collapsed.

De Dios identified the fatality as Modesto Appelido, a native of Bingawan Iloilo, while those injured were identified as Darius Castillo, 48; Jade Daryl Castillo, 22 at Nino Jay Castillo, 22.

“Based on our initial investigation, the side of the hill may have collapsed due to the recent series of rains. I told the police investigator in charge to double check if there were also signs of foul play or possibly neglect of protocols in the construction,” De Dios said.

Operatives from the Malay Disaster Risks Reduction Management Office, the Bureau of Fire Protection, Barangay Council and residents in the area helped retrieve the victim’s body in the landslide area.

The Caticlan road is considered a tourism highway as Caticlan is a major entry and exit points of Boracay Island, a premier tourism destination.