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Landslide buries village in Batangas; 46 dead on Kristine
By J.Lo
“We are continually checking and taking care of affected individuals and families,” Talisay Mayor Nestor Natanauan said days of incessant rains unleashed landslide buried at least 14 people, including 12 children, with six others still missing..
Patrolwoman Nenette Landicho of Talisay Police Station confirmed retrieval of bodies of 14 victims from site of landslide occurred around 7 in the evening . in Purok B in Barangay Sampaloc.
Batangas police director Col. Jacinto Malinao said death toll could rise to 16 as they are still looking for six missing people including woman and her child who were buried in landslide.
Incident followed days of heavy rains brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, began affecting the province on Tuesday.
Natanauan expressed concern over extent of disaster, saying that Kristine has greatly damaged their town.
He assured people of Talisay that search for missing would continue.
At least 311 families comprising 1,457 individuals have taken shelter in evacuation centers across Talisay.
In Batangas province, total of 5,000 families or 17,700 individuals are housed in 266 evacuation centers, while additional 1,402 families have sought refuge outside official shelters.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that 133 houses have been completely destroyed and 567 houses sustained partial damage due to continuous rains and landslides.
In addition to 14 deaths in Talisay, 14 more individuals have been reported dead from other parts of Batangas. Ten persons are still missing and three others were injured during storm and subsequent landslides, according to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office ( PDRRMO).
Eight people from Laurel town perished as result of landslide, Malinao said, while remaining 11 fatalities were from other areas in the province.
Apart from Talisay and Laurel, two other hardest-hit areas are Lemery and Calatagan.
In text message, Gov. Hermilando Mandanas announced province of Batangas will declare state of calamity within the day to expedite relief and recovery efforts.
Local government and disaster management teams are continuing search, rescue and relief operations as rains are expected to persist.
Kristine’s casualty count rose to 46 with at least 20 people reported missing in various affected provinces of Luzon.
Citing latest data, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said 28 of those who died are from Bicol region, including 14 from Naga City, Camarines Sur.
Fifteen of the casualties are from Quezon province and Batangas in Calabarzon region while there is one reported fatality each in La Union, Zambales and Zamboanga del Sur.
Circumstances surrounding deaths vary from drowning, being hit by fallen trees and electrocution as Kristine was dumping heavy rains, causing massive flooding.
Meanwhile, latest reports from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) show Kristine has affected total of 569,524 families or 2,656,446 persons in 15 different regions across the country.
Of the number, 64,447 families or 239,200 persons are taking temporary shelter and are being provided with their basic needs in 5,791 different evacuation centers.
NDRRMC said Bicol region had most number of affected families at 384,436 or 1,860,625 people, followed by Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 89,132 families or 435,135 persons.
There were also 7,510 passengers, 1,788 rolling cargoes, 97 vessels and 17 motor bancas stranded in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.
Kristine wrecked total of 1,402 houses in Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, BARMM and Cordillera Administrative Region, according to NDRRMC.
In Bicol region alone, estimated cost of damage to agriculture has been placed so far at more than P9.7 million while damage to infrastructure in select areas is at P15 million.
Bicol police director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said among challenges they are facing is shortage of rubber boats with outboard motors could reach flooded communities.
Region also needs more relief supplies such as ready-to-eat food and drinking water, he stressed.
There are residents still trapped on roofs of their houses in Bicol due to floods, according to police.
He is hoping good weather would continue for the next several days so they could fast-track relief missions.
NDRRMC said cost of assistance given to most affected families and individuals has now reached over P60.5 million, includes food and non-food items.
Meanwhile, nine Bulacan fishermen were rescued in Manila Bay on Thursday.
Bulacan disaster risk reduction management officer Manuel Lukban Jr. reported boat of 10 fishermen from Obando town capsized and nine of the crew were rescued later. Jerry Lacaña, one of the crew, was unfortunately found dead.
Two fishermen from Limay, Bataan were also rescued in Bulacan part of Manila Bay last Thursday, according to him.
Lukban reported that rains caused by Kristine together with high tide of Manila Bay inundated at least 54 barangays in the province with 0.5 to four feet of flood water.
On the other hand, total of 395 families or 1,376 individuals were evacuated and brought to 16 evacuation centers in Bulacan.
Lukban stressed partial and unofficial damage report on agriculture include 885.74 hectares of rice lands affecting 775 farmers, 1.69 hectares of vegetable land affecting 12 farmers and 61.60 hectares of fishpond affecting 29 fisherfolk.
Meanwhile, Pangasinan police provincial office reported three persons were injured when tree fell on their house due to strong winds caused by Kristine in Anda, Pangasinan.
Landslide induced by continuous rains caused by Kristine buried farmer alive while he was tending vegetable farm in Buguias, Benguet on Thursday afternoon.
A 60-year-old Mountain Province villager who was reported missing since Thursday has been pronounced dead after his remains were washed away by Chico River.
City government of Makati dispatched specialized team of search and rescue personnel to Bicol to aid in relief operations.
Total of 27 personnel from Makati disaster risk reduction and management office have been deployed by the city. Team includes technical search and rescue responders as well as emergency medical services personnel, ensuring both life-saving and medical support can be provided.
Makati team also supplied vital water search and rescue equipment, such as steel and rubber boats, medical gear, high-angle search and rescue tools and personal protective equipment.
They also brought generator sets and urban search and rescue shelters to ensure they could operate independently during mission.
Four rescue vehicles, two basic life support ambulances and canter truck were also part of convoy sent to Bicol.
“Makati stands in solidarity with our kababayans in Bicol Region…we are always ready to help other localities in every way possible in times of disaster,” Makati Mayor Abby Binay said in statement.
Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) has deployed Health Emergency Response Teams (HERTs) to evacuation centers housing large number of families and individuals displaced by Kristine.
DOH said HERTs were spread to all regions affected by storm to provide needed medical assistance.
“Our HERTs immediately responded to evacuation centers in different regions to provide medical intervention to those affected by tropical storm Kristine,” DOH said.
Apart from providing medical consultation, they also brought with them medicines for those in need. DOH also provided hygiene kits as well as disinfectants, chlorine granules and water purification tablets to families in evacuation centers.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced e cancellation of 14 domestic flights at airports under its management.
Laoag International Airport has two canceled flights from Manila to Laoag and vice versa on Cebu Pacific 5J404/405.
Zamboanga International Airport has four canceled flights on Cebu Pacific, namely 5J 851/852, 5J 859/860 plying the Manila-Zamboanga-Manila route.
San Jose Airport in Occidental Mindoro has two canceled Cebgo flights coming from Manila.
Bicol International Airport in Albay has two canceled flights by Cebgo DG 6193/6194, plying Manila-Daraga (Legazpi)-Manila route.
Lastly, Tuguegarao Airport in Cagayan province has cancelled four domestic Cebu Pacific flights – 5J504/505 and 5J506/507.
CAAP information officer Karen Villanda said widespread disruptions caused by Kristine prompted airports managed by their agency to take significant steps in assisting affected residents and travelers.
Romblon and Naga airports have already provided free charging services to individuals needing to connect with their loved ones using mobile devices.
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