Fortich said it was heavy rains that caused the landslides Sunday and Monday in Barangay Lumbayao in Valencia City as the soil may have loosened particularly in mountains that have little vegetation.
“Although there may be other factors that caused the landslides, heavy rains brought by the ICTZ (inter-tropical convergent zone) since the middle of May this year may have increased the risk of landslides,” she said.
She added that they have been constantly issuing flood and landslide warnings because of the relatively heavier rains this year.
As per the weather models Pagasa is using, the ICTZ may last until July 8 this year, she said.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the landslide in Lumbayao had climbed to five as of 9pm last night, according to Arsenio Alagenio, provincial head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
One of the additional two fatalities was identified as Reynante Sadsad, husband of Sheryl Sadsad, another victim whose body was retrieved yesterday afternoon, Alagenio said.[]
Reynante died at the provincial hospital in San Fernando town, he added.
Alagenio said the Valencia City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council promised to give P10,000 to each family of the victims.[]
