MANILA, Philippines – Four construction workers died while two other individuals were injured following a landslide in Antipolo City on Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The BFP reported that the incident occurred while the victims were clearing a retaining wall they had dismantled in Fairmount Hills Subdivision, Barangay Dela Paz.
“The team tirelessly worked hand in hand and managed to rescue 2 people alive and was able to retrieve 4 casualties trapped under the soil and mud,” the BFP said in a statement on Wednesday night.
The Antipolo City Police Station on Thursday confirmed that all of the fatalities—aged 32, 33, 37 and 56—were construction workers.
Meanwhile, a 20-year old construction worker and another resident sustained injuries, according to the police.
“Investigation disclosed that the victims were clearing the retaining wall’s foundations that had been dug,” the police said in its spot report on Thursday.
“Suddenly, the natural soil collapsed and eroded to the victims,” it added.
The search and retrieval operations took two hours, according to authorities.