Ground rupture worries village official in Makilala

MAKILALA, North Cotabato -At least 17 families in a remote village here dear losing homes if repeated moderate toheavy down pour continue thatcould trigger landslides, a village official said. Eduardo Delfin, chair ofBarangay New Israel where Makilala's famous zipline is located,said the soil movement triggered a ground rupture that measuresat least 20 meters long and 150 feet high. It could possibly cover villagers's home if rains continue, Delfin said. We suspect that the rupture occurreddue to rain the past days, he said in Filipino. What worriesDelfin was the fact that New Israel has no relocation site for the would be displaced families. We seek the help of our municipal officials, he added. The village covered court could be the families' temporary shelter. For now that is the only help we can extend for them,” Delfin added. Delfin said officials ofthe Makilala Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) had already inspected the area anddeclared the place unfit for occupants.