Davao landslides, floods kill 14
DAVAO CITY, Philippines– At least 14 people died while 34 others were hurt after landslides and flashfloods brought by a low-pressure area struck towns that are still recovering from the devastation of typhoon “Pablo.”
The Office of Civil Defense-Southern Mindanao said four persons from Monkayo, Compostela Valley and a resident from Lupon, Davao Oriental, have been reported missing.
A six-year-old girl was killed while 10 others were wounded after a series of landslides hit the mining area of Mt. Diwata in Monkayo town on Sunday.
Another four-year-old-child was killed in the nearby village of Babag in the same town.
Three miners were also killed and one person was hurt in Sitio (sub-village) Bango, Barangay (village) Ngan, in Compostela, Compostela Vice Mayor Reynaldo Castillo Jr. said.
Article continues after this advertisementThe OCD added that another resident was killed in Barangay Andap, New Bataan, also in Compostela Valley. The village was one of the hardest-hit by typhoon Pablo. Meanwhile, a 70-year-old woman was killed by landslide in Tagbaros village, Maco town in Compostela Valley.
Article continues after this advertisementIn Davao Oriental, five people were declared dead while 23 others were wounded in the village of Bangol in Tarragona town. Another resident died in the nearby village of Tubaon.
A resident was also killed in the village of Marayag in Lupon town.
Meanwhile, 25,634 families or 128,215 persons are temporarily taking shelter in 79 evacuation centers in 16 municipalities and two cities in the region.
At least 33 roads and bridges were damaged making the search and rescue operations harder for the emergency responders.
Some 1,971 families or over 7,000 persons have been staying in evacuation centers in Compostela Valley, and most of the roads there are still impassable to light vehicles, according to Raul Villocino, provincial disaster action officer.
In Davao del Norte, 1,508 families or 5,760 individuals were evacuated to safer ground as rivers, particularly Saug ang Liboganon, swelled from waters heading downstream, Romulo Tagalo, provincial information officer, said.
The junction of the Pan-Philippine highway in Bincungan, Tagum, was also rendered impassable as water from the mountains already reached downstream, Tagalo said, even as he called on residents to heed government calls to evacuate.
Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario also ordered the suspension of classes throughout the province due to the bad weather, Tagalo said.
Several local government units (LGUs) in Davao del Norte, have been placed under a state calamity, so funds could be used in providing help to affected areas.
In Surigao del Norte, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Gilbert Gonzales said several areas were also flooded, while a person was reported missing, Gonzales said.
On Monday, evacuations of residents continue as flooding persisted in several towns in Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte.
The LPA was last observed 70 kilometers southwest of Cagayan de Oro City, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said at its 10:30 a.m. weather advisory.
Pagasa said the LPA would bring cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms over Caraga, Zamboanga Peninsula, Eastern and Central Visayas and Bicol region.
This will trigger flashfloods and landslides, it added. With a report from Frances Mangosing
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