Landslide kills 4 as Basyang hits Cagayan de Oro

MANILA, Philippines — Four members of a family, including two children, were killed after a landslide buried their home in Barangay Agusan, Cagayan de Oro City amid heavy rains as Tropical Storm Basyang hit the country.

Initial reports identified the victims as Rufa Lariosa, 30, and Paul Lariosa, 42, both of Zone 1, Sambulawan, Agusan, Cagayan de Oro City, along with Riane Salobo, 13, and 11-month-old Aleah. They were rushed to nearby hospitals, but rescue and medical teams were unable to save them.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the landslide was caused by heavy rainfall, although authorities are still validating whether it can be directly attributed to Basyang.

Widespread flooding also paralyzed Iligan City, where major roads and national highways remained impassable as of press time.

The C3 Road in the upper portion of the city served as the only accessible route and was being used as a diversion road. The Tubod and Mandulog bridges were destroyed by strong flash flood currents.

In Cagayan de Oro City, floodwaters inundated several areas, including Camaman-an, Cugman, Agusan, Barangay 26 and Bugo.

Across Northern Mindanao and nearby regions, thousands were displaced.

In Misamis Oriental alone, 32,750 people were forced from their homes, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department.

Gingoog City recorded the number of evacuees at over 5,000, followed by Talisayan and Lagonglong.

Camiguin province reported 2,129 people staying in preemptive evacuation centers across its five towns.

The NDRRMC said 6,152 people were affected by heavy rainfall and flooding in the Caraga Region. Of these, 5,847 people are currently sheltered in 37 evacuation centers.

Sea and air travel were also heavily affected by Basyang.

In Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Caraga, 5,835 passengers, 2,288 rolling cargoes, 131 vessels and seven motor bancas were stranded due to suspended ferry operations.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines temporarily closed runway 07/25 at Camiguin Airport due to flooding from the overflow of a nearby creek.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 10 has mobilized 3,000 ready-to-eat food packs for residents in Iligan City while the NDRRMC distributed P246,585 worth of food and non-food assistance to other affected families.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration yesterday, Basyang has weakened to a tropical depression after making its first landfall late Thursday at Bayabas, Surigao del Sur and its second landfall at Jagna, Bohol around Friday noon.

Basyang is expected to make another landfall over the southern portions of Cebu and Negros Oriental this morning.

Afterwards, it will head toward the southern portion of Panay Island or over Panay Gulf and may weaken into a low-pressure area in the next 12 hours.