Army soldiers, armed with picks and shovels, continue to search for  landslide victims in Guihulngan City and  La Libertad, Negros Oriental.

2Lt. Joyce Rafael, acting 11IB Civil Military Operations Officer, yesterday said Army soldiers have been digging for landslide victims since Monday afternoon, braving bad weather and the danger of  a  re-occurrence of  the  landslide.

Rafael said there is now a shortage of food and water in Guihulngan City and in all affected areas,  that are also experiencing brownouts.

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is using the 302nd Infantry Brigade troopers  led by  Col.  Francisco Patrimonio, 11th  and 79th Infantry Battalions, and its 32nd Division Reconnaisance Company who  are helping in the search and rescue operations in quake-affected areas of Negros Oriental.

Troopers of the 32nd DRC are now in Brgy. Solongon, La Libertad, while 11IB soldiers were dispatched to Brgy. Planas, Guihulngan, for retrieval operations.

Rafael said about 80 injured victims are now being treated at the Guihulngan District Hospital.

The  city of Guihulngan is near the epicenter of the quake.

AFP spokesman Colonel Marcelo Burgos Jr. said a UH-IH Huey helicopter and a Navy patrol gun boat were dispatched to help in the search and rescue operations.

Burgos said four other helicopters were also placed on standby, and about 1,000 troops of the 302nd Infantry Brigade,  have  already  been deployed in search and rescue operations.*GPB

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