MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) At least 14 people were killed when floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains this week struck parts of Mindanao and the Visayas, as well as Catanduanes province, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), and the disaster councils of Region 10 (RDCC10) and local government units.

Figures provided by the various disaster councils also showed at least 46,346 families, or 234,578 individuals, have been displaced and otherwise affected in the calamity-stricken areas.

The heavy rains of the past few days were caused by the tail-end of a cold front.

In their latest situation reports Wednesday, the NDCC counted eight dead and eight others missing in Northern Samar, Capiz and Catanduanes provinces, while the RDCC 10 counted six dead and two others missing in the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Occidental.

The Misamis Oriental Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council provided the name of another missing person.

The NDCC also reported that 24,352 families, or 123,608 persons, have been affected in Regions 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, the CARAGA region (Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur) and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

The RDCC 10, for its part, counted 21,994 families, or 110,970 persons, affected in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Oroquieta, and Gingoog, and the municipalities of Kinuguitan, Salay, El Salvador, Alubijid, Balingasag, Initao, Jasaan, Laguindingan, Lagonglong, Manticao, Medina, Nawaan, Opol, Tagoloan and Talisayan, all in Misamis Oriental.

The NDCC report said couple Edwin and Gemma Dela Cruz, and their four children, who all died in a landslide in Northern Samar, Sylvia Roxas Cerezo of Panay town in Capiz, and a five-year-old boy from Catanduanes.

Missing, according to the NDCC, are Aileen Escoto, Alfonso Badar, Jose Talavero, Francis Mae Talavero, Paresa Garado, Aida Mercurio, and Perencio Mercurio, all from Guianan, Eastern Samar; and Arnold Abelio from Tolosa, Leyte.

The RDCC 10, on the other hand, said Dario Ompok, 42, of Barangay (village) Dalipuga, Iligan City; Micheal Arangco, 18, and Micheal Siñoron, both from Cagayan de Oro City, were killed in landslides.

The Misamis Oriental PDCC also said Crisanto Ampo Jr., 6, of Samay, Gingoog City; Dancel Namata, 14, of Pagpangon, Talisayan town; and Danilo Galario, 23, also of Pagpangon, died.

Still missing, the RDCC 10 reported, are Jun Harvey Abao of Pangpangon, and Eizel Ragmak from Barangay Mapulog, Naawan, Misamis Oriental, while the Misamis Oriental PDCC listed Francisco Alvarado of Santiago in Gingoog as also missing. .

The RDCC 10 estimated infrastructure damage in the region at P15.26 million, while crop losses were placed at P35.46 million and livestock, P515,000, in the two Misamis provinces.

The Misamis Oriental PDCC said many people in coastal villages were trapped on the roofs of their houses until dawn Wednesday when waters suddenly rose Tuesday night. More people panicked when text messages started to circulate about tornadoes.

The PDCC did confirm a tornado in Alubijid town but no casualties were reported

In Linamon, Lanao del Norte, more than 100 houses in the coastal area were damaged by a storm surge Tuesday night.

Linamon Mayor Noel Deano told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) that they already declared a state of calamity on Wednesday.

Fallen coconut trees also cut power supply to some areas of the town, he said.

"The engineering team of Lanao del Sur Electric Coop. is still working to restore power," Deano said.

In Iligan City, more than 300 families were also affected by a storm surge and flashflood, Mayor Lawrence Cruz said.

Cruz said a rescue team was also deployed to help residents of Bayud Island, who were trapped by rising waters.

Misamis Oriental provincial administrator Patrick Gabutina said while there is still enough food supply, there are other items that the evacuees need such as medicines, beddings, cooking utensils and potable water.

The PDCC also reported that the bridge connecting Medina town and Gingoog City had been rendered impassable by the floods.

"Communications are also difficult in the towns of Balingasag, Talisayan, Medina and Gingoog City as the generator that had been powering the Smart communication tower in Gingoog City conked out due to the floods," Teddy Sabugaa of the PDCC said.
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In Cagayan de Oro, big waves swept away more than 50 houses in villages along Macajalar Bay.

"Where will I go now?" Maria Sarpenas of Cugman village asked in the vernacular after losing her home to the waves.

Jojo Tadlas of Bayabas village recounted the fear he and others felt on seeing waves as high as eight feet battering their homes.

"It was the worst…I have seen since I lived here 20 years ago," he said.

Rudy Menes, president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce, told the Inquirer that the floods spelled losses for local businesses.

"Establishments are flooded, workers could not report to work. They [businesses] are forced to close shop in the meantime while the weather is still wreaking havoc," Menes said.

Sabugaa appealed to public and private agencies and individuals for help in meeting the immediate needs of disaster victims.

He said interested donors can contact the PDCC communication center here at 08822-726736.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, warned that more rains are expected in Northern Mindanao and other areas of the island until the end of the week.

But while the Cagayan de Oro government blamed mining for the floods, Menes said the culprit could be the local master development plan, among others.

"There is a need to update the master plan, people who are living in the creeks and crucial areas should be relocated so that the drainage could be maintained well," Menes said.

Bencyrus Ellorin, spokesman of the environmental group Task Force Macajalar, agreed with Menes' suggestion.

Ellorin said the city government should also conduct a comprehensive watershed physical characterization of the Cagayan River and its tributaries.

Ellorin said a warning mechanism should also be developed so that people living downstream can be alerted whenever there is abnormal buildup of water in the upstream.