MANILA - Residents of Barangay Ucab in Itogon, where dozens of people were buried in a landslide, must leave their homes because of an "imminent danger" discovered by authorities, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Monday.

DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said cracks were discovered around the mountain village, particularly near the landslide site. If Typhoon Paeng brings more rains in the coming days, he said some parts of the village may collapse.

The official said DENR will submit the recommendation to the local government of Itogon town in Benguet within the day. He said it will be up to the local officials if they will implement a forced evacuation based on their recommendation.

At least 49 bodies have been retrieved from a mining bunkhouse buried in a landslide in Barangay Ucab. Twenty-five people perished from landslides triggered by Typhoon Ompong in other villages in Itogon, bringing the town's casualty count to 74.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau earlier warned of possible landslides in the Cordilleras as Typhoon Paeng is expected to bring light to moderate rains to several areas in Luzon on Thursday or Friday.

PAGASA said Paeng may be weaker than Ompong but even moderate rains may cause landslides in the Cordilleras because soil in these mountainous region is saturated. --report from April Rafales, ABS-CBN News