VALENCIA, Bukidnon — A three-year old girl was found dead after she was buried in a landslide in Barangay Laligan, Friday morning.

It took the rescue team more than 4 hours to retrieve the body of Irene Mirabueno.

The girl was staying at her Aunt Epifania’s house when the incident happened.

“My daughter was playing with her friends outside the house. When the landslide happened, her friends were able to run away but Irene failed to escape,” said the victim’s father, Rene.

Epifania was brought to the hospital after she was hit by debris but later on died.

Five other houses were damaged in the landslide.

These houses were built at the foot of a hill.

The non-stop rains brought by tropical storm Vinta softened the soil and caused the landslide.

Barangay official Glenda Danico said they already advised residents to evacuate the night before because the area is landslide-prone, but they refused.

“We never had landslide before, that’s why the residents were confident that we will never experience it,” said village councilor Danico.

Danico added that she will recommend the area as no built zone because cracks are seen on the hill which can still pose risks.