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Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Lanao death toll at 9, damages at P35 million
By Lino Dela Cruz and Richel V. Umel
ILIGAN CITY -- The death toll in the floods that hit at least two Lanao del Norte towns Sunday and the landslide that buried two passenger buses in Zamboanga del Sur on Monday rose to nine on Tuesday, authorities said.
Two others were reported missing while several were injured.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Lanao del Norte reported Tuesday that at least nine people were confirmed dead.
Kapatagan Municipal Agriculture Officer Frank Bihod said P35.7 million worth of rice crops and marine culture products were destroyed.
Bihod said damages to a fishpond with a total area of 1,050 hectares were placed at P31.5 million while damages to 600 hectares of rice lands were estimated at P4.2 million.
In a press conference held Tuesday morning, Lanao del Norte Provincial Governor Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo and Kapatagan Mayor Benny Baguio jointly declared the province, particularly Kapatagan town, under a state of calamity.
Dimaporo said she already asked for rehabilitation fund assistance from Malacañang.
In Kapatagan town, those killed were identified as Edilberto Lazerto of Pagadian City, Adel Cabatana, Virgie Fuentes, three-year-old Dexter Petallar, and a still unidentified 50-year-old woman.
Fell off
Petallar reportedly fell off a motorized banca into the raging waters in Barangay Lapinig, Kapatagan.
Two other unidentified men were reported as missing and are believed dead.
Barangays that were worst hit by the flood in Kapatagan town included Margos, Butadon, Balili, Waterfalls, Lapinig, Dumingag, Concepcion Dunggoan, Poblacion and Taguitic and Barangay Kampo Islam in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town, said Lanao Federation of Civil Societies chairman Jun Enriquez.
A landslide occurred Monday dawn, a few hours after the flooding in Lanao del Norte Sunday night, and buried two buses in Barangay Anonang, Aurora town, Zamboanga del Sur.
Those bus passengers hit by the landslide were identified as Delma Allam, a postmaster of Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay province, Felicitas Guy-ab of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Sur, and a still unidentified woman.
Seven persons were hurt in the landslide in Aurora, according to authorities.
Authorities and relief workers in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town, Lanao del Norte reported that a still unidentified man was washed ashore in the town beach Monday.
About 1,200 homes in Kapatagan town were reportedly destroyed by Sunday's flood and 578 families were hit the worst.
Safer place
The Philippine National Red Cross, through its representative Leonilo Lagasca, estimated that as of Tuesday, at least 3,500 people were evacuated to a safer place.
Flood victims said there were loud rumblings that preceded the flood, which reached to a depth of at least 12 to 18 feet as river waters overflowed.
Authorities said the national roads in the boundary of Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur remained impassable as of Tuesday.
However, local officials said the Department of Public Works and Highways, assisted by the 6th Marine Battalion Landing Team headed by Colonel Rodolfo Quinto, is clearing the roads of mud, boulders, and other debris.
Commuters have to walk at least several kilometers to reach passenger jeepneys to take them to either the Lanao del Norte side or Zamboanga del Sur side.
Work for the restoration of power lines is now ongoing, according to town officials.
Relief work is now ongoing initiated by the Red Cross, Department of Social Welfare and Development, local government units, non-government organizations, and rescue teams from neighboring cities and provinces.
Relief workers are appealing for more food and other form of assistance from concerned government agencies. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
(August 16, 2006 issue)
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