JOSE ABAD SANTOS, Davao Occidental – More than a month after the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Southern Mindanao on June 8, the body of a 13-year-old girl who had been buried beneath a massive landslide was finally recovered in Barangay San Isidro, bringing closure to one grieving family while highlighting the lingering tragedy left by the powerful disaster.
The victim was identified as Jaya Bualan Mansibad, a resident of Barangay San Isidro.
According to reports, Jaya was trapped after tons of earth and debris cascaded down during the earthquake, burying portions of the community. Rescue teams immediately launched search and retrieval operations following the disaster and dug through the landslide area in an attempt to reach the young victim.
However, responders were unable to recover her at the time because she was believed to have been buried deep beneath the thick layer of collapsed soil and rocks, making retrieval extremely difficult and dangerous.
After remaining missing for more than a month, nature unexpectedly revealed her final resting place.
Authorities said recent heavy flooding in the area washed away portions of the landslide debris, causing Jaya’s remains to surface, allowing responders to finally recover her body.
The heartbreaking discovery marks another painful chapter in the aftermath of the powerful June 8 earthquake, which triggered widespread landslides, coastal uplift, infrastructure damage, and displacement across parts of Mindanao, particularly in Davao Occidental and neighboring provinces.
Despite the recovery of Jaya’s remains, search operations are still ongoing for another missing landslide victim.
Authorities continue to look for Rene Ampan Takas, who remains missing after also being buried by the same landslide in Purok Sambato, Barangay San Isidro, during the earthquake.
Local officials and disaster response teams have not given up hope of locating Takas despite the challenging terrain and the passage of time. Search efforts continue whenever weather and ground conditions permit.
The recovery of Jaya Mansibad’s body serves as a somber reminder of the enduring human toll of one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Mindanao in recent years, as affected communities continue their long journey toward recovery while some families are still waiting for answers and the chance to finally bring their loved ones home.