12 dead, 14 missing in flash floods in South, Negros

At least 12 people, including an elderly woman and a child, were killed and 14 others were missing as torrential rains unleashed flash floods in several areas in the Zamboanga peninsula and in southern Negros, authorities said yesterday.

Nearly 36,000 villagers fled to higher grounds as rivers overflowed their banks in the provinces of North Cotabato, Zamboanga del Sur and Sultan Kudarat during the past two days, sweeping cattle and at least 50 houses, swamping roads, and destroying bridges. Power was cut off in at least three towns.

Heavy rains abated slightly yesterday after three consecutive days of downpour.

The 10 fatalities in the South were reported in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur; Kidapawan City, and Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat.

Six other people were reported missing in Cotabato.

Negros floods

Torrential rains also caused flash floods and a landslide in southern Negros, killing six people. Three of the victims — a five-year-old girl, a seven-month-old baby and their mother — died when a boulder struck their house in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, 74.9 kilometers south of Bacolod City.

The rest of the victims drowned in Binalbagan and Hinobaan towns in southern Negros. Three other persons were reported missing.

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, who chairs the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said President Arroyo has ordered him to monitor the rescue and rehabilitation operations.

The heavy rains swelled the Allah River criss-crossing Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao, destroying a bridge connecting Cotabato City and Sultan Kudarat province and forcing some 4,000 villagers to evacuate.

Hundreds of commuters were stranded along the Shariff Aguak-Isulan stretch of the highway after the P15-million concrete bridge was destroyed.

Knee-deep floodwaters also submerged more than a dozen barangays in the adjoining Maguindanao towns of Mamasapano and Ampatuan, said provincial health officer Tahir Sulaik.

In Mamasapano alone, at least 2,000 Muslim families were displaced, Sulaik said. Some 435 families evacuated in Ampatuan.

More help needed

"They need food, medicines and other provisions. Some of them fled their homes bringing only a few pieces of clothing," Sulaik said.

He said Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan distributed about two tons of cereal to the evacuees, but added that they need more support from the national government to sustain rehabilitation efforts.

Engineer Norie Unas, the provincial administrator, said they are working on the immediate repair of the Labo-Labo bridge, which was virtually washed away.

"It’s fortunate that Public Works and Highways Secretary Simeon Datumanong is at present in the province so he saw for himself the extent of damage wreaked by the flash floods," Unas said.

He said the provincial government has deployed relief workers to Datu Piang town, 12 kilometers northeast of Shariff Aguak, to check reports that about 2,000 villagers have been displaced there.

In southern Negros, four of the fatalities were identified as Nelia Trinidad, her daughter, Rosa Mae, 5, and seven-month-old baby, who were also killed in the landslide; and Nida Claveria, who was swept by rampaging waters in Barangay Santol, Binalbagan town.

Claveria’s two children, Iris, 3, and Ronick, 9, were still missing as of presstime. Her husband, Romulo, was able to save their two other children, Kenneth, 8, and Arian, 4.

Teofilo Negre, a supervisor of Philex Mining Co., also drowned.

Flash floods also swept through the city proper of Sipalay, about 178.6 kilometers south of Bacolod. — John Unson, Antonieta Lopez