Flood death toll in Visayas, Mindanao reaches 13

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 13 people have died due to heavy floods caused by a low pressure area that hit parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, disaster management officials said yesterday.

The new fatalities, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), were recorded in the Caraga region, which consists of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands.

In a report, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Caraga said the six new fatalities were residents of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.

Blanche Gobenciong, OCD regional director in Caraga, identified the new fatalities as Ruben Ramos, 40, and Richard Ramos, 8, both from Rosario, Agusan del Sur.

Reported dead in Surigao del Sur were Nenita Corpuz, 57, and Julie Culapu, 47, both from Cantilan; Isagane Borja, 25, from Marihatagand; and Aladin Corporal, 25, from Madrid.

The new fatalities died of drowning, except Corpuz and Culapu who were buried alive in a landslide.

The NDRRMC said a total of 92,487 families or 465,550 people were affected in 541 barangays in Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The NDRRMC said 9,274 families or 47,632 people have been brought to 33 evacuation centers. At least 118 houses in Caraga and ARMM have been damaged by the floods and landslides.

Four persons were reported missing as of yesterday. The NDRRMC said they include a certain Jonathan Moreno, 33, and Albert Cutamura, 24, of President Carlos Garcia, Bohol. The two fishermen were last seen on board a motorized pumpboat from Maasin City, Southern Leyte going back to Bohol.

In Compostela Valley, a 62-year-old woman, Teresita Acion, was reported missing due to a flash flood caused by heavy rains last Feb. 2.

Despite the bad weather, classes and work in some parts of Caraga have resumed. The NDRRMC said the suspension of work in public offices in Butuan City was lifted last Thursday. In Surigao del Sur, classes as well as work in the public and private offices resumed that day.

Work in government and private offices in Surigao del Norte has resumed, but classes in public elementary and high schools were still suspended. In Dinagat Islands, classes in all levels were still suspended but work in government and private offices has resumed.

The OCD in Caraga said the region is now experiencing fair weather and that floodwaters have started to subside in some areas. 

The Social Welfare department has released P2.47 million worth of relief goods to parts of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Agusan del Norte.

The Health department in Caraga has declared a white alert to ensure the availability of assistance to flooded areas and to monitor the situation in evacuation centers.