A section of the four-lane highway connecting this city to Davao City collapsed Saturday night after heavy rains triggered a landslide in Sitio Kipolot, Barangay Palacapao, leaving the road impassable to all vehicles.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-10) and local authorities in Quezon town are assessing damage and identifying possible alternate routes while clearing operations continue.
“This landslide will surely affect the flow of container vans between Davao and Cagayan de Oro,” said Lyle Justine Egay, Quezon’s public information officer.
Egay added that scores of passenger buses are stranded on both sides of the highway, causing heavy traffic congestion in the area.
Rescuers are searching for a couple who were riding a tricycle, locally known as a bao-bao, when the landslide struck around 7:55 pm Saturday, October 18.
The vehicle, which was carrying vegetables, was found buried at the bottom of the slope.
The DPWH-10 Second Engineering District advised motorists in light vehicles to take alternate routes through San Fernando–Kapalong–Tagum or via Kabacan, Carmen, and Kidapawan in North Cotabato.
Motorists may also take a longer detour through Butuan City en route to Davao while engineers work on a more direct bypass.
Egay said one of the options being considered is the opening of a temporary dirt road beside the affected section to allow limited passage once conditions are deemed safe.
