CAGAYAN DE ORO City – The number of diarrhea cases that may have been caused by contaminated water in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental has risen to 1,500, authorities said.

“We are still investigating the cause but if we find out that there was negligence on the part of the local water district, they will be held liable,” said Gov. Oscar Moreno.

Moreno has ordered the creation of a task force to investigate the outbreak and attend to the needs of the patients.

“We haven’t seen the reservoir yet. We also have to take into account the circumstances leading to the outbreak,” Moreno told reporters here as he assured the public that the contamination was confined to Tagoloan town only.

Local radio reports have said the disease has spread to nearby Villanueva town, with hundreds of people coming to the municipal health center.