Landslides hit Talisay, kill 1

TROPICAL Storm Ofel claimed the life of a trisikad driver who was buried in a landslide in Talisay City yesterday afternoon.

That, as Ofel damaged agricultural products, caused power outages and flooded low-lying areas in Cebu’s northern towns as well.

In Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan town, two dive shop employees earlier reported missing Wednesday night were able to sail back safely to shore using boat paddles past 8 a.m. yesterday.

Coast Guard Cebu lifted yesterday morning the suspension of the trips of vessels bound for Visayas and Mindanao areas, but continued to hold vessels bound for provinces where Tropical Storm Ofel is headed.

Warning lifted

CG Cebu Commander Rolando Punzalan said they lifted the suspension of the trip of vessels plying the Visayas and Mindanao routes at 11 a.m. yesterday after the weather bureau lifted the storm warning signal in Cebu.

Storm signal number one remained hoisted in Bataan, Zambales, Cavite, Batangas and Northern Mindoro.

Mactan station weather chief Oscar Tabada said Ofel was heading toward Luzon, but Cebu might still have moderate rains today.

Casualty

In Talisay City, trisikad driver Ruben Tabura, 66, was bathing in a waterway that he made in Sitio Riverside in Barangay Jaclupan when rocks and mud above him suddenly caved in due to heavy rains.

Insp. Hugo Rio Ipong, Talisay City deputy police chief, said that between noon and 3 p.m., Tabura left his house to take a bath and collect water in a waterway he had made.

The waterway is located about half a kilometer from his house.

When Tabura had not returned home, his relatives went to the waterway and found him buried under a pile of rocks and mud.

Policemen led by Ipong and members of the Talisay Rescue and Emergency Assistance Team (Treat) pulled Tabura out of the debris, but he was dead.

The victim’s body is at the St. Francis Funeral Homes in Barangay Tabunok.

Landslides

Earlier yesterday, a landslide also occurred in Barangay Camp 4, which is beside Barangay Jaclupan.

The landslide partially covered the Talisay-Toledo Wharf access road, which is still being widened.

Arturo Bas, Talisay City public information officer, said no one was hurt during the landslide that occurred at 10 a.m.

Bas said that a backhoe provided by the project subcontractor, QM Builders, immediately cleared the debris.

Daanbantayan

Chief Insp. Jose Liddawa, Daanbantayan police chief, said the tropical storm left little damage in the town because they were prepared for it.

In Sitio Sta. Teresita in Barangay Lamintak Norte, Medellin, about 45 houses were submerged in waist-deep water when a river nearby overflowed.

No one died or was injured in the flooding.

Beatrice Monleon, 72, told Sun.Star Cebu that the flooding started Wednesday night due to the heavy rains brought by Ofel.

They had the same experience when tropical depression Ramon hit their town last year.

“We were already prepared. We made sure to put our clothes and appliances in areas that will not be reached by floodwater,” Monleon said.

She and her neighbors blamed the flooding on the small culverts installed in the river.

Bogo city

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Central Visayas received several reports on damaged houses, particularly in Bogo City.

Three houses in Sitio Mano-ong in Barangay Don Pedro were also flooded while two fishing boats were damaged in Barangay Nailon.

The storm also damaged part of the road in Sitio Combado in Barangay Gairan. The damage was estimated at P150,000.

Several agricultural products were not spared by the strong winds and heavy rains, damaging corn, sugarcane and fruit trees.

In several northern towns, trees and branches fell on power lines, causing power outages in some areas.

Repairs were done round-the-clock to ensure that power supply was restored immediately.