Flood death toll rises to 26; 10 remain missing

The death toll from the floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in Southern Luzon, Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao rose to 26, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). The NDCC also reported that 10 people remained missing after the floods and landslides occurred in the said areas. Of the 26 dead, two were from Albay — Domingo Binlayo Sr., 78, and Salvador Petilla; one from Capiz — Daniel Calizo; 13 from Eastern Samar — Loreta TUnacao, Mario Galla, Roberto Operario, Edito Bola, Artemio Baltar, Grace Ann Acude, Antonio Caspe Jr., Evelyn Geradilla, Leonila Capones, Boy Capones, Jonjon Ladea, Geraldine Palce, Amado Madeja; one from Samar — Alfredo Gaborna, 59; three from Leyte — Eddie Pineda, Valentina Fuentes, Janhin Florida); five from Lanao del Norte — Macabayao Morsalem, Ampaso Masaranga, Abubakar Ligcawaya, Saphia Samer, Nihaya Samer; and one from Misamis Oriental — Juan Salva Jr. The injured included two from Sorsogon — Leo Dayondon and Dolores Dayondon); and two from Eastern Samar — Eaddie Baroso and Rolando Colandog. Still missing are one from Albay — Tito Bueno; five from Sorsogon — Gregorio Dolito, Rowel Dayondon, Lilian Dayondon, Crisanta Banares, Lourdes Beatumen; three from Eastern Samar — Ricky Ranillo, Anthony Cabukuhan, Ricardo Loyola; and one from Lanao del Norte — Jerome Rosalijos. Also, the council said that as of 11 p.m. Friday, several key roads and bridges in Bicol remained impassable, but most evacuees in the region had returned home. NDCC said that in Libon, Albay, many agricultural crops were extensively damaged, with ricefields that remained underwater. Landslides hit road sections of Malobago and Tinapian villages, and the main road of Manito in Albay, while houses near Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur remained flooded. Several road sections along Maharlika Highway were still impassable to light vehicles due to floodwaters. Damage to property amounted to P900.288 million, including P189.96 million in agriculture, and P710.33 million in infrastructure. Some 766 houses were destroyed, and 3,344 were partially damaged. Four areas were placed in a state of calamity, including Eastern Samar, Sigma town in Capiz, Albay, and Magallanes in Sorsogon. The flash floods and landslides have affected 112,193 families or 538,371 persons in 993 villages in 14 provinces in Southern Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Regions 10 and 12 in Mindanao. Of these, 170 families or 924 persons remain in evacuation centers while 60,585 families or 294,682 persons stayed in their houses or with relatives. Several roads and bridges in Bicol remained impassable to vehicles, including the Imainod-Capantawan section in Legazpi City; Malobago section in Manito; Daang Maharlika Culiat-Busay section (heavy vehicles only); Daang Maharlika Polangui (flooded but passable); Comun-Inarado-Peñafrancia Road in Camalig; Ligao-Tabaco Road; Catburawan Spillway in Oas; Matacon-Polangui Junction Road and San Agustin-Bololo Bridge (underwater but passable); Ligao-Pioduran Road (unpassable due to washed-out detour bridge at Binodegahan section); Biak-na-Bato and Talin-Talin Roads in Libon; Marayag and Cagoscos section in Libon; In Camarines Sur, Naga-Calabanga-Balongay road section (flooded but passable); Daang Maharlika along Nabua Poblacion; Baao-Iriga-Nabua; Danao-Pacasao road section; In Catanduanes, road section of San Andres-Camaroran (landslides and landslip); Inalmasinan (river between Lubas, Cabungahan and Bocon (intermittent flooding); Pilar-Donsol Road (unpassable due to overflowed Gura Bridge); and Irosin section. - GMANews.TV