Thursday, September 25, 2008 3 die, 19 hurt in Benguet landslides
THREE persons were killed and 19 others were injured, after a flood and four landslides hit Baguio, La Trinidad, and Itogon, due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Nina.
Those killed as a result of two landslides in Baguio during the onslaught of Typhoon Nina were identified Wednesday as Lolita Baroma, 76, who resided here at 172 Guisad Surong; Juan Baroma, of the same address; and Lielany Fetcha, 38, who lived here at 155 Dominican Extension.
Eleven of those injured in Baguio were named as Kenneth Fetcha, 33; Kayla Fetcha, 9; Emelita Baroma, 50; Mark Anthony Novestera, 37; Rey Bagtas, 34; Jonathan Baroma; Ruth Baroma, 13; Janica Mae Novestera, 8; Magilyn Baroma; Donalyn Baroma; and Michael Baroma.
All 11 victims were rushed by rescuers to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) emergency room after their houses at Dominican Extension and Guisad Surong were covered by separate landslides.
In La Trinidad, Benguet; the six injured were identified as Catalina Paat, 56; Gaspar Handaan, 39; Jessie Tolabis, 21; Rico Yaqui, 13; Monsor Pusawen, 6; and Aya Paat, 4.
All six victims, after being retrieved by volunteers from a landslide that covered their house in Kesbeng, Poblacion, La Trinidad, were immediately brought to the Benguet General Hospital.
In nearby Itogon municipality, the two injured were named Luzviminda Gropo, 45; and Virbek Magatin, 16. Both were hurt in a separate flood and landslide in Ucab, Itogon, Benguet.
In Apayao, a province-wide total power outage or blackout started around 4:30 a.m. of September 22. The Apayao River also swelled.
There was also a province-wide total blackout in Abra, which started 2 p.m. on the same day. The Abra River also swelled.
Due to the devastation wrought by the typhoon, 12 persons from two families were inadvertently affected by the landslide in Kesbeng, Poblacion, La Trinidad; 25 persons from five families were affected by flooding of the Balili River; eight persons from three families were affected by the landslides at Dominican Extension and Guisad Surong; and 280 persons from 56 families were affected by flooding in City Camp Proper, all in Baguio.
Earlier, 14 miners were reported to have been trapped at level 700 of the Antamok Gold Field in Itogon, Benguet after floodwaters reached level 400 of the same mine site on the night of September 22. (ENO)
