Death toll in Mindanao flash floods rises to 5

GRIM TASK The grim task of finding and retrieving the remains of this week’s flash flood victims, like this child in Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte, has been given to a search and rescue team from the local government. —PHOTO COURTESY OF BARMM READI

COTABATO CITY — Search and rescue teams retrieved the remains of three children who went missing amid flash floods on Tuesday night in Matanog town, Maguindanao del Norte, bringing the number of fatalities from the disaster in the Bangsamoro region to five, with seven still missing.

Mubarak Dumato, Maguindanao del Norte information officer, told the Inquirer that government teams retrieved on Thursday morning the remains of Norhaina Butil, 11, and her sister Norhaine, 2.

On Friday morning, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi) reported that another drowning victim, a girl, was retrieved at Sitio Campo Uno in Barangay Bugasan Norte, Matanog.

The province’s search and rescue team, Dumato said, has continued searching for two more children, a boy and a girl.

READi also accounted for a 16-year-old boy who was found dead among the debris at Barangay Igabay in Balabagan town, Lanao del Sur province, on Wednesday morning.

Also on Wednesday, Baby Nor Raba, 18 (not 14 as earlier reported), was found dead in Kapatagan town, in the aftermath of the floods, said Jennie Tamano, Lanao del Sur information officer.

In Lanao del Sur, Tamano said rescuers continued their search for Norshaila Cabana Malumpil, 3, and Abdul Major Cabana Malumpil, 2, of Barangay Molimoc, Balabagan town, and Junaid Mindalano, of Kapatagan town.

The Lanao del Sur provincial disaster risk reduction and management office said its responders were also scouring Barangay Molimoc and nearby areas for Sheila and Ela Abdullah, who were reported missing amid the flash floods.

The READi on Friday said that in Matanog, 19 people, mostly children, were injured and 942 families or 4,710 people had been affected, many lost their homes to the rampaging waters that struck their communities suddenly on Tuesday night.

The BARMM Ministry of Social Services and Development has set up tents as temporary shelters for the displaced families in Matanog and distributed food and nonfood aid to all those affected in different towns in Lanao del Sur.

As of Friday, Lanao del Sur authorities counted some 4,990 families affected by the floods, of which 665 reported that their homes were damaged.

Still on alert

Units of the police, Army, Marines, and coast guard in Maguindanao del Norte continue to be on alert to assist rescue workers of READi and the provincial engineering office for search and clearing operations.

“Disaster workers are still on alert three days after the calamity because the weather condition in Matanog and nearby areas continues to bring threats to local residents,” Dumato said.

He said the Narciso Ramos Highway connecting Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur had been reopened, allowing for the faster deployment of humanitarian aid.

On Tuesday night, cascading waters and mud swept through Matanog and adjoining towns of Kapatagan, Balabagan and Malabang in Lanao del Sur due to heavy rains brought by a low pressure area.

According to initial reports gathered by humanitarian group Care Philippines, over 700 families are currently staying in evacuation centers as a result of Tuesday’s floods.

Reiza Dejito, Care Philippines country director, said they were particularly concerned about the disaster’s “severe impact on women and girls and other vulnerable individuals, including persons with disabilities, older persons and children.”

“In crises like this, women and girls are disproportionately affected, facing heightened risks to their safety, health and access to essential services. This disaster has increased these vulnerabilities, making it crucial that our response prioritizes their specific needs,” Dejito said.

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