A man died in a rockfall on Abaca Mountain on Luzon Island in the Philippines, roughly 150 km northeast of Manila, following heavy rains at about 5.00 pm local time (9.00 am GMT) on Monday 9 September 2013. The man has been named as Eduard Fernandez (40) of Infanta town in Quezon Province. He and two companions had apparently sought shelter from the rain under a rock overhang, when part of the hillside collapsed and he was hit on the head by a boulder, killing him instantly. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall.
The approximate location of the 9 September 2013 Abaca Mountain landslide. Google Maps.
Many areas of east and south Asia have been hit by exceptional rainfall this year, leading to a string of fatalities in flood and landslide events. In the Philippines Luzon Island has been badly hit by flooding again this week, with many people forced to leave their homes for temporary shelters in schools and other public buildings and much of Manila under water.
See also Miner killed in landslide on Mindanao Island, the Philippines, At least one person dead as Typhoon Utor sweeps across Luzon Island, Two children killed by landslide in the Philippines, Four children feared dead after after Philippine Landslide and Typhoon Bopha sweeps across the southern Philippines.
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