2 Cagayan DPWH Workers Buried in Landslide; One Dies, One Survives
Two DPWH workers were buries in Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan leaving one laborer dead and left another injured.
The incident happened along the national highway in Barangay San Juan while crew members were conducting their routine clearing operations on Friday morning (November 28, 2025)
According to disaster officer Marlene Miralles, three DPWH personnel were checking the area for possible soil movement, something they reportedly do every day. Two of them were already shoveling debris when a portion of the nearby mountainside suddenly collapsed around 7 a.m. Despite attempting to run, both workers were overtaken by the falling soil.
Sta. Praxedes Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office shared photos ofrescuers working together to free the trapped workers. They were immediately rushed to the Rural Health Unit for urgent care, but one of them did not survive.
The other worker is now in stable condition and recovering.
Miralles explained that the landslide initially appeared minor, which is why the crew did not expect a larger collapse to follow. Their heavy equipment driver, who was supposed to enter the site, managed to avoid danger after he saw that the slope was starting to give way.
Meanwhile, DPWH teams continue clearing operations along the affected road, which connects Cagayan to the Ilocos Region. Work is ongoing to ensure the area is safe for both motorists and responders.
The incident reminds of the risks faced by road workers who monitor and maintain landslide-prone areas, especially during periods of unstable weather and shifting soil conditions.
Authorities are advising the public to remain cautious when traveling through mountainous routes while clearing efforts are still underway.
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