13 dead as floods, landslides hit 'Pablo'-ravaged areas
  • 5 years ago
MANILA – Days of rains triggered floods and landslide in the Caraga Region in Mindanao, killing at least 13 people, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). NDRRMC spokesperson Reynaldo Balido said seven people died in Davao Oriental, six of whom were killed in a landslide incident in Barangay Tanggol in Tarragona town. The seventh fatality was from Barangay Marayag in Lupon town. Meanwhile, six people died in the adjacent province of Compostela Valley: three in Compostela town, two in Monkayo, and one in New Bataan. At least seven people were reported missing: four in Compostela Valley, and one each in Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental. Those missing in Compostela Valley were feared buried in a mining site in Mt. Diwata in Monkayo. Balido said there were a total of 34 people injured in the non-stop rains, 23 of whom were due to the landslide in Davao Oriental. Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental are the two provinces which took the brunt of typhoon "Pablo" in 2012. At least 1,000 people died in the deluge. Office of Civil Defense – Region XI (Davao) director Loreto Rirao told dzMM that mountains were no longer able to hold water brought by the incessant rains. "Three days, four days nang tuloy-tuloy ang ulan. Hindi kasing lakas pero dahil sa continuous ito ay nakakaipon ng tubig. Hindi inaasahan ng iba na ganon ang pagtaas dahil hindi ganoon kalakas. Hindi nila nakikita na doon sa bulubundukin doon ang malakas," Rirao said. According to Rirao, the Davao Oriental towns of Tarragona, Manay, Caraga, Cateel, Baganga and Boston lost power supply and were inaccessible due to a series of landslides that rendered some roads impassable. Governor Corazon Malanyaon told ANC that the province has enough relief goods, but they are not able to reach the affected residents due to accessibility problems. Landslide incidents were also reported in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; New Corella, Tagum City, and Cateel in Davao del Norte; Butuan City; Lanuza, Surigao del Sur; and Dinagat Islands, according to NDRRMC. [NDRRMC - http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/1139/UPD%20re%20SitRep%203%20Prep%20Measures%20&%20Effects%20of%20LPA%20(13JAN2014).pdf] Thousands flee In Tagum City, Davao del Norte, barangays Pagsabangan, Cuambogan, Canocotan, Apokon, San Miguel, Mankilam, Busaon, Liboganon and Bincungan were submerged in flood waters due to days of intermittent rains. The state-run Philippine Information Agency - Region 11 said 1,280 families or 5,760 individuals were displaced in Tagum City, Kapalong, Carmen, New Corella and Asuncion in Davao del Norte. At least 250 residents were rescued. [PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - https://twitter.com/PIAalerts] In Carmen town, head-deep floods trapped some residents in their homes after the Liboganon River swelled. The overflow also inundated a bridge in Barangay Guadalupe. According to the NDRRMC, at least 22 roads and 13 bridges were rendered impassable due to floods and landslides in all affected areas. In Compostela Valley, floods submerged parts of five towns and damaged two infrastructures in Monkayo: the Bailey Bridge in Barangay Upper Ulip, and the bank protection dike in Barangay Naboc, the NDRRMC said. Office of Civil Defense – Caraga director Liza Mazo, as quoted by PIA, said that as of 7 a.m. today, a total of 2,765 families were affected by flooding and landslides, and at least 2,184 were forced to evacuate in the entire region, composed of the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands and Butuan City. [PIA - https://www.facebook.com/weatherPH/posts/608742225841144] At least 2,394 families in 22 barangays in Butuan City, now under a state of calamity, fled their homes, Mayor Ferdinand Amate told ANC. A foundation of one of the city's bridge also collapsed but no one was reported injured, he added. Alert Level 3 was also raised in Agusan River when its water rose to 3.02 meters at around 8 p.m. Sunday. In Agusan del Sur, meanwhile, floods hit the towns of Veruela, Sta. Josefa, Trento, Rosario, Bunawan, Prosperidad, Esperanza, San Luis, and San Francisco, which was earlier placed in a state of calamity. The NDRRMC said a total of 26,801 families or 132,379 individuals were affected by the rains and floods. At least 251 houses were either damaged totally or partially. Low pressure area Weather bureau PAGASA said that as of 10:30 a.m., the LPA was spotted 70 kilometers southwest of Cagayan de Oro City. PAGASA said the LPA will bring cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms over CARAGA region, Zamboanga peninsula, eastern and central Visayas, and Bicol region. It warned that the rains brought by the LPA may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of southern Luzon, rest of Visayas and the rest of Mindanao will also be cloudy with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. Class suspension PIA said class