Search and rescue workers in the central Philippines are searching for survivors after a landslide buried houses in three villages early Thursday morning. The confirmed death toll has risen to 29, and dozens more are missing. CGTN's Barnaby Lo has this report from the island of Cebu.

It could have been any passenger van from afar, but villagers must have known what it was carrying. As soon as the vehicle stopped, they circled around it. Inside, the body of a 12-year-old boy pulled out from under this rubble. Early Thursday morning, a landslide buried several houses in three villages in Naga City in the Central Philippine island of Cebu. This, just days after Typhoon Mangkhut set off deadly landslides in the country's north.

KRISTINE CHIONG NAGA CITY MAYOR "There are still signs of life. That's why we demolished houses so our rescue teams can have easier access to ground zero of the accident."

It's a race against time, however. As hours and days pass, anxious relatives are gradually giving up hope.

MALE NEED DUBBING JASON AGUANTA RELATIVE OF VICTIMS "My cousin sent a text message at around 1 in the morning on Friday, saying they're still alive. But I think they may be dead now."

BARNABY LO CEBU, PHILIPPINES "At the moment, we're not being allowed on ground zero of the landslide. But as you can see right here, there are debris. We were told that these used to be houses here. The mountain that crumbled is about a kilometer away from here."

Residents say only those living close to the quarried portions of nearby mountains were advised to relocate when cracks were noticed.

DARIO YUNSON VICTIM'S HUSBAND "There was no warning whatsoever here. The warnings were for those in neighboring villages, far from here. No one told us that this place could be in harm's way too."

Dario Yunson says his wife had only been staying here to help take care of young relatives, but now he fears she may be gone. Barnaby Lo, CGTN, Naga City, Cebu, the Philippines.