MALABANG, Lanao del Sur — The body of a woman believed to be among those reported missing following the devastating landslide in Calanogas, Lanao del Sur was recovered Friday afternoon, July 10, after it was found floating in a river in Sitio Malade, Barangay Pialot, Malabang.
The victim was identified only by the alias “Nur,” a married adult resident of Barangay Ngenger, Calanogas, one of the communities severely affected by the massive landslide triggered by incessant rains brought by Super Typhoon “Inday.”
According to reports, personnel of the Malabang Municipal Police Station (MPS) received a radio message at around 4:49 p.m. from the Deputy Chief of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) regarding the discovery of a body floating in the river. Responding police officers immediately proceeded to the area, where the victim’s remains had already been spotted at around 4:45 p.m.
Authorities carefully recovered the body and transported it to the roadside for identification. Initial investigation revealed that the victim was likely among the individuals reported missing after the catastrophic landslide that struck Barangay Ngenger, Calanogas earlier that day.
Investigators believe the powerful floodwaters generated by the torrential rains swept the victim from the landslide site and carried her body for approximately seven kilometers downstream before it eventually surfaced along the river in Malabang.
The discovery underscores the immense force of the floodwaters unleashed by Super Typhoon “Inday,” which has battered large parts of Mindanao with relentless rainfall, triggering widespread flooding and deadly landslides across several provinces.
The landslide in Calanogas has already claimed multiple lives, while several others remain unaccounted for as search, rescue, and retrieval operations continue despite dangerous weather conditions and unstable terrain. Rescue teams have been racing against time to locate the remaining missing residents buried beneath tons of mud and debris or swept away by raging floodwaters.
Following the identification process, the victim’s family immediately claimed her remains and brought them home for burial, as relatives and residents mourn another tragic loss caused by the disaster.
Meanwhile, the Malabang Municipal Police Station continues to monitor the situation and coordinate closely with the MDRRMO and other concerned agencies as emergency responders remain on heightened alert for additional victims who may have been carried downstream by the swollen rivers.
The heartbreaking recovery of “Nur” serves as another grim reminder of the destructive impact of Super Typhoon “Inday,” whose torrential rains have left a trail of death, destruction, and displacement across Mindanao. Authorities continue to urge residents living in landslide- and flood-prone communities to heed evacuation orders and remain vigilant as adverse weather conditions persist.