Heavy rains trigger landslides in Negros Oriental

What remains of the Taclobo overflow in Dumaguete City after being damaged by the debris from the landslide. INQUIRER photo / Violeto Romano

BACOLOD CITY—Incessant heavy rains triggered a series of landslides on Thursday in Barangays  Puhagan, Pulangbato, Malaunay and Caidiocan  in Valencia town,  Negros Oriental located where the Palinpinon Geothermal Power Plant of the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) is located.

No one was reported hurt but the roads were currently inaccessible to all types of vehicles due to the debris from the landslide, said Vicente Omandam, senior manager of the EDC’s   Negros Island Geothermal Business Unit.

He said EDC is also mobilizing food and water for the 87 affected families who had been evacuated.

“Our Civil Works team is still assessing the area and are checking to ensure the safety of our partner communities. We have also mobilized our barangay emergency response team in Valencia to provide us updates,” Omandam said.

Derbis from the mountains of Valencia also caused damage to the Taclobo overflow and a bridge in Dumaguete City. /jpv