3 killed in Philippines landslide

Three people were killed in a landslide along a mountainside road in southern Philippines late on Tuesday, a military official said, adding that several others were believed missing in the incident. According to Lieutenant Hermie Montelibano, an officer of soldiers who participated in the search and rescue operation, the avalanche, which occurred at about 1:00 p.m. in Mati City in Mindanao's Davao Oriental province, also covered a national road in Tagabakid village, and buried several vehicles. "Three bodies have been recovered, all motorists. We're still digging for possible more victims as several vehicles have been reportedly hit by the landslide," Montelibano told Xinhua by mobile phone. Authorities suspected a crack from the portion of a hill overlooking the highway had given way following last week's continuous rains in southern Philippine due to a tropical storm.