Deaths could still rise with missing feared dead
HEAVY rains brought by storm “Bebeng” killed at least 10 people after one of two people reported missing turned up dead, disaster relief and police officials said yesterday.
A report said 16-year-old Adrian Clark of Libon, Albay who was initially reported missing was later found dead raising the death toll from 9 to 10. A resident of Camarines Sur remains missing and is feared dead.
The other fatalities were Ricsan Sayamora, a 9-year-old boy who drowned in Bato, Catanduanes; landslide victims Plaridel Ruelan,19; Princess Ruelan, 8 months old, and Marco Sanchez,7, who died when mud and rocks buried their house in Sitio Ikog, Balatan, Camarines Sur; Aristeo Sabido,31, who was killed after being pinned down under the wreckage of his pick-up truck which went wayward along the Rolando Highway in Lupi, Camarines Sur; Arnulfo Pesito, 23, who was electrocuted in Libon; Lourdes Lantero,58, who drowned at Purok 5 in Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay; and Jerry Mijares,38, and Luis Dingcol,47, who both drowned in Carigara, Leyte.
At least 16,408 families or 83,561 people from 94 villages in Bicol and Eastern Visayas were affected. Of these, 5,488 families or 28,348 people were brought to evacuation centers, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
It added that floods also affected 10 barangays in Libon, Albay; Casiguran, Sorsogon and the towns of Lope de Vega, Catarman, Mondragon and Rawis in Northern Samar while landslides and erosion occurred along Lapinig to Arteche Road in Northern Samar. Electricity in some of the affected areas was cut off as a result of heavy rains that also affected nearly 4,800 people.
In Camarines Sur, a portion of Baao–Iriga City-Nabua Road was reported flooded but passable. In Eastern Visayas, the National Highway in Brgys. Diaz, Casab-ahan and Concepcion, Gandara Samar was reported to be impassable.
The Calbayog-to-Catarman Road was impassable due to flooding in Brgys. Cabacungan, Cagbayang, Tarabucan and Capacuhan all in Oquendo District, Calbayog City and Brgys. Geratigan and Getigo of Lopez de Vega town.
Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul M. Bacalzo mobilized all police forces in the affected areas to extend immediate and full assistance to the calamity victims.
Bacalzo also directed the PNP Maritime Group headed by Chief Supt. Francisco Don Montenegro to deploy his search-and-rescue teams in affected areas in Ilocos-Pangasinan region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Bicol.
PNP Highway Patrol Group director, Chief Supt. Leonardo A. Espina said his men are assisting the Department of Public Works and Highways and local government units in clearing operations at Maharlika Highway in Polangui, Albay.
