Miracle rescue: 2 kids survive 60 hours in rubble

15 dead, 110 still missing in Davao landslide

- DIANA LHYD SUELTO

A young girl and a baby boy miraculously survived the landslide that hit the gold-mining village of Masara in Maco, Davao de Oro three days after it occurred.

The rescue has been hailed as a "miracle" after searchers had given up hope of finding anyone alive nearly 60 hours after the tragedy.

The municipal government of Maco confirmed to The STAR that the three year-old girl, dubbed "The Angel of Masara," was rescued yesterday morning.

On the other hand, the two-month-old baby's rescue was reported by the Philippine Red Cross Emergency Response Unit in the afternoon. He was suffering from severe diarrhea.

Both children were brought to the Doctors Community Hospital in Mawab for treatment.

According to accounts, the young girl was able to hold on to a woman before being swept away by the landslide, Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region chief Ednar Dayanghirang said.

The girl was said to have been buried in a spot with a hollow portion that allowed her to breathe. The girl was frail and severely dehydrated when the rescuers found her.