6-year-old boy dead, farmer missing as Auring leaves Caraga

CAGAYAN DE ORO—A six-year-old boy gathering coconut twigs with his mother drowned while a 50-year-old farmer went missing as Tropical Storm Auring left a trail of destruction in the Caraga region on Monday (Feb. 22).

As of 1 p.m. on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Auring had weakened into a low-pressure area (LPA) after it made landfall on Batag Island, Samar province in the morning.

Auring, however, left behind damaged houses and bridges in Caraga region where it lingered for a few days.

Brig. Gen. George Banzon, commander of the Army 901st Brigade, said Baby Boy Mondigo, 6, was swept away while he and his mother were crossing a creek at the village of Panatao, Claver town, Surigao del Norte province on Sunday (Feb. 21).

Banzon said the mother was carrying a bunch of coconut twigs in her arms and was unable to save her son who was behind her when a wall of water crashed on them.

He said the body of the body was recovered two hours later.

In Surigao del Sur, Brig. Gen. Allan Hambala, commander of the Army 401st Brigade, said Florencio Blanco, 50, farmer, was also swept away by rushing waters as he crossed a creek at the village of Pong-un, San Agustin town on Sunday.

Hambala said Blanco was still missing as of Monday even as Army soldiers, village watchmen and policemen continued their search operation.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (NDRRMO) reported 13,816 families, or 53,236 persons, had been displaced by the flooding in Tandag City on Sunday.

The NDRRMO also reported several roads and bridges in Surigao del Sur that were still being repaired.

Philippine Airlines cancelled a total of 40 flights in the Visayas and Mindanao because of the gale force winds of Auring.

TSB