Bicol ‘Usman’ death toll rises to 57

GUINOBATAN, Albay, Philippines — The number of bodies recovered in the Bicol Region in the aftermath of Tropical Depression “Usman” rose to 57 Sunday night, according to the regional Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

Most of the victims were from Camarines Sur province where 23 have been confirmed dead, a consolidated OCD report said.

Tiwi town in Albay province registered the most number of dead from landslides with 12 victims from the villages of Maynonong, Sugod, Gajo, and Bariis.

Earlier, Manuel Damo of the town’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the victims “must have relaxed after Usman was declared a low pressure area” on Saturday afternoon, prompting them to go back to their homes.

Meanwhile, the province of Sorsogon also declared a state of calamity hours after Albay and Camarines Sur governors made the same declaration due to the loss of lives and property.

The towns of Bulan, Magallanes, and Matnog in Sorsogon were already under a state of calamity prior to the provincial-wide declaration.

According to the OCD, damage to agriculture throughout the region was at P242 million as of Sunday. /cbb

Heavy rains brought by Tropical Depression “Usman” flood Buhi town, Camarines Sur. BUHI MUNICIPAL POLICE