Storm Ramon changes direction: Cebu is spared, but 2 die, 2 hurt

CEBU, Philippines - Tropical storm Ramon may have spared Cebu from its wrath when it changed direction, but two people have been reported to have died while two others were injured in incidents related to the weather disturbance.

Reports of damage to infrastructure were also reported in several areas particularly the northern part of the province.

In Toledo City, a coconut wine vendor died when the steel bridge he was crossing collapsed. His two companions were injured.

The steel footbridge connects Barangay Magdugo with Cambang-ug of the city on the western side of the province.

The fatality was identified as Wilfredo Sabroso, 27, of Barangay Cambang-ug.

He died from a head injury, which he sustained when he hit a portion of a bridge when it collapsed around noontime yesterday.

Those injured were identified as brothers Jelmar Parba, 13, and Jhunale Parba, 15. They sustained injuries in different parts of their bodies and have been taken to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

The three were carrying gallons of coconut wine locally known as tuba that they were supposed to take to Barangay Ilihan to sell.

The three risked crossing the bridge despite an earlier warning from the Barangay Captain of Magdugo that nobody should cross the bridge as it was dangerous.

Police said that the bridge weakened due to the continuous rain.

The second fatality was identified as Beinvenido Cañete, 60, a tricycle driver from Barangay Poblacion, Cordova town.

He was electrocuted Tuesday night when he went out of his house to buy a lottery ticket.

It was reported that an electric wire came in contact with the gate at the back of the victim’s residence and he was electrocuted when he touched it.

 Senior Police Officer Henry Amores, Cordova police investigator, said Cañete failed to notice the wire which came in contact with the gate made of galvanized iron.

“Possibly dunay paksit ang wire unya uwan-uwan nasaghiran ba kaha niya ang gate nga maoy hinungdan,” Amores said.

Infra Damage

In the northern town of Medellin, the huge vehicles were forced to take another route heading to Daanbantayan when a portion of the road became impassable due to cracks.

A portion of the road also collapsed compounding the situation. Only motorcycles and the small minicabs were allowed to pass, said Insp. Manuel Singson, Medellin police chief.

Singson also said that Barangays Lamitak, Tindog and Camputatan Sur were flooded affecting almost a hundred families.

Those affected, however, reportedly refused to leave their homes fearing that their belongings might be stolen.

Minor incidents in City

There were no major injuries or damage to property in Cebu City.

While Mayor Michael Rama is thankful, he still met the barangay captains to remind them and their constituents to stay alert.

The storm-related incidents reported in Cebu City were of uprooted trees and an electric post that fell in Barangay Kalunasan.

Rama said that the city government will be on full alert at all times even if the storm signal has been lifted in Cebu.

Manageable

The Capitol yesterday said that storm Ramon did not cause much damage.

Aside from Medellin, a portion of the road in Borbon town was also damaged.

“Overall, we are very thankful that the heavy rains causing the flood did not really create situation that could not be managed,” Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said.

Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre said that provincial road at the boundary of barangays Curva and Panugnawan in Medellin was badly damaged and is no longer passable by four-wheel vehicles.

The Provincial Engineering Office immediately deployed heavy equipment like a pay loader, grader and dump trucks upon the request of Mayor Ricardo Ramirez for immediate intervention for the safety of all motorists and pedestrians.

In Borbon, Provincial Board Member Joven Mondigo, Jr. who is from Medellin, confirmed that a portion of the national road in Barangay Don Gregorio Antigua is no longer passable prompting him to take the Tabogon-Damolog, Sogod route in going to Cebu City yesterday to attend the birthday celebration of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Garcia said that since before, aside from the Capitol equipments, the contractors undertaking projects in the area automatically pull out their equipment to address infrastructure problems during calamities. She said that local government units were able to take preemptive measures.

“We are thankful of the fact that all our mayors were on alert and were very prepared. We have kept on contacting them and telling them and getting all these updates, so far they are not even asking for assistance,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.

Mayors Erwin Yu of Tudela and Jesus Fernandez of Pilar in Camotes group of islands who were at the Capitol yesterday also reported no damages in their areas.

OCD monitoring

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) – 7 recorded over 12 storm-related incidents in Cebu.

Among those reported were preemptive evacuations in the town of San Francisco in Camotes Island.

The 11 families that were asked to move to a school building later returned to their homes when the weather improved.

Flooding incidents were reported in Bantayan town in Bantayan Island and in Mandaue City. Affected areas in Mandaue City were Barangays Tabok, Pakna-an, and Banilad.

Two houses were also reported to have been partially damaged after a tree was uprooted at B. Rodriguez in Barangay Guadalupe Cebu City. No casualties were reported. —with Jose P. Sollano, Jessica Ann R. Pareja, Gregg M. Rubio, Ryan Christopher J. Sorot and Isobelle Karen A. Clitar, PIT ABComm Intern/NLQ (FREEMAN)