Developer blamed in Manila landslide

Developer blamed in Manila landslide

MANILA (Reuters): A Philippine government investigation into a landslide in a Manila housing estate which killed at least 48 people said on Monday that the developer of the project was aware that the ground was unstable.

It said also the government's regulatory bodies which cleared the construction of the Cherry Hills estate could have required greater safeguards but did not.

Elsewhere, relief officials said at least nine people were killed in the weekend collapse of a half-constructed building in the central Philippine city of Cebu. At least five people are missing and eight others were injured. All the victims were construction workers.

The Cherry Hills disaster report laid the blame both on the developer and government agencies.