1 dead, 8 missing in Masbate as ‘Urduja’ triggers floods, slides

WIKIPEDIA IMAGE / MIKE GONZALEZ

DIMASALANG, Masbate – Tropical depression “Urduja” left one dead and eight persons missing as heavy rain caused flash floods and landslides in several towns in Masbate province, reports from the Masbate Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) said.

Genalyn Decante, 42, died after she was swept away by flood in Sitio (sub-village) Ilawod in Barangay (village) Sta. Cruz in Palanas town. Eight remained missing in the same town.

Flash floods were reported in Barangay Uson, also in Palanas; Barangay Tugbo, Masbate City; and five villages in Uson town.

Meanwhile, no casualty was reported in a landslide that occurred in Barangay Panisijan, also in Uson town.

Some 1,884 families or at least 9,021 persons were evacuated from 15 towns in Masbate province under the threat from flash floods and landslide.

According to the PDRRMO, a total of 56 passengers, 21 buses, 20 rolling cargoes, 18 vessels and 16 motor bancas were stranded in Masbate City and the ports of Placer, San Pascual and Cataingan. /cbb