NDRRMC: Death toll from floods now 10, more areas affected

The death toll from floods and landslides that hit Southern Luzon, Bicol region, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao has gone up to 10 as of midnight Monday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. In its update as of midnight Monday, the NDRRMC said the provinces of Palawan and Maguindanao have also been affected by the floods caused by continuous heavy rains. On the other hand, NDRRMC executive officer Benito Ramos on Tuesday said at least five people were reported missing. He said these included one in Bontoc town in Southern Leyte; two in Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur; and two more in Butuan City. He did not immediately name them. “I have yet to get their names. And I want to clarify first if these are dead or alive," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. The NDRRMC said at least 37,124 families or 197,641 people from 242 villages in 39 towns in 10 provinces had been affected. [See: NDRRMC update] Of the 10 fatalities, five were from Southern Leyte province in Eastern Visayas. Three of the Southern Leyte fatalities were from Bolodbolod village in St. Bernard town, these are Fatima Discaryal, her brother Rodel, and Jordan Laquipon. Another fatality, Patrick Pelaez, was from Pancho Villa in Sogod. A fifth fatality was Recabel Montederamos of Maanyag village in Tomas Oppus town. Fatalities from Mindanao included Cristy Jane Celocia of Lanao del Norte and Apolinaria Porras in Mt. Diwata, Compostela Valley. Ramos cited initial reports indicating Pelaez and Celocia had drowned. Two fatalities – Lolita and Antonio Dadap – were from Albay in Bicol, while Maricris Abrigo was from Legazpi City. Ramos said Bolodbolod had been classified as landslide-prone areas, and that local officials had warned residents of a landslide Sunday but many may not have left their homes because they were still tending to their farms. Water, medicine shortage Residents of a landslide-hit town in Southern Leyte are beginning to run low on water and medicine, even as they are to remain in evacuation centers until at least Tuesday morning. St. Bernard town Mayor Rico Rentuza made an appeal for water and medicines Monday afternoon, saying it is still too dangerous to let the 1,345 evacuees return to their homes for the moment. "We are running low on water and medicines. We may be able to manage for tonight but if conditions do not allow the evacuees to return by Tuesday, we're in trouble," Rentuza said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said some 1,345 evacuees are now staying at five evacuation centers in the town. Last Sunday, a landslide following days of heavy rain hit the town, killing at least two children. A third child was reported missing but was found alive Sunday night. But Rentuza said they are now verifying reports of another death caused by the landslide. As of Monday afternoon, he said the weather had improved somewhat but the skies remained cloudy. "Medyo humina nang kaunti pero medyo madilim ang langit (The rains eased somewhat but the skies remain cloudy)," he said. "We are not prepared to declare the town safe. We're apprehensive the rains may fall again. So we have to hold the residents until at least Tuesday morning)," he added. At least one house was destroyed in Guinsaugon village in Bontoc, Southern Leyte. At least 12 houses were destroyed and 10 damaged in Baroy and Tubod in Lanao del Norte, the NDRRMC said. Flooded areas Based on NDRRMC's Monday update, the following areas are still affected either by floods or landslides: * Region IV-A (Calabarzon): Barangays El Vita and Paraca, Narra, Palawan * Region V (Bicol region): Barangays in Jovellar, Daraga, Camalig, Malinao, Polangui, Libon and Tiwi in Albay and Castilla, Sorsogon * Region VIII (Eastern Visayas): Brgy 92 in Tacloban City, Leyte; majority of the barangays in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte; upstream barangays in Oras, Maslog, Canavid, Dolores, Jipapad and Taft, Eastern Samar; Brgy Fatima, Hinabangan, Western Samar; and Northern Samar * Region X (Northern Mindanao): Flooding incidents occurred in Tubod, Baroy and Lala, Lanao del Norte due to the overflowing of Bulod River due to continuous rains * Region XI (Davao region): Monkayo, Compostela, New Bataan and Montevista in Compostela Province due to the overflowing of Agusan River * CARAGA: Surigao City, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur * ARMM: 13 barangays in Maguindanao Province; 11 in Talayan and two in Datu Anggal Midtimban Landslides * Region V (Bicol region): Manito, Sto Domingo, Malilipot and Bacacay, all of Albay with 18 barangays affected * Region VIII (Eastern Visayas): Artemio Mate Avenue, Tacloban City, Leyte and Brgy. San Rafael, Hinabangan, Western Samar * CARAGA - Minor landslides occurred in Surigao City and Dinagat Islands, Brgy Salvacion, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur Also in CARAGA, three road sections in Agusan del Sur are still impassable to all types of vehicles due to flooding and landslide: Bah-Bah-Talacogon Road, Awa-Aspetia and Butuan Lapaz Road In Region XI (Davao region), two footbridges in Brgy Andap, New Bataan, Compostela Valley were washed out while the National Highway along Barangays Cabinuangan and San Roque, New Bataan, Compostela Valley is scoured.