8 killed, 4 missing in Bicol landslides
CAMP OLA, Albay – At least eight persons were killed, while four others were reported missing in four separate landslide incidents in Bicol region, triggered by heavy rains brought about by tropical depression “Usman” since Friday.
Usman later dissipated into a low-pressure area (LPA) after landfall over Borongan, Eastern Samar.
Chief Inspector Malu Calubaquib,
Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) spokesperson, said that the first incident of landslide was recorded in Barangay San Francisco, Legazpi City, claiming the lives of Mauro Alegre, 26, his wife Mia, 20, and their threeyear-old son Marco.
Calubaquib said the victims were deep asleep when the landslide occurred at 1:23 a.m. on Saturday.
In Bulan town Sorsogon, another landslide claimed the life of Angelina Gerona, 91, a widow and a resident of Barangay Palale.
Calubaquib said another landslide was recorded in Lagonoy town, in Camarines Sur, burying to death Charles Las Penas, 51, and Charles Las Penas y Luzande, 11, both of Barangay Guibahoy.
The landslide occurred at around 2 a.m. Saturday.
At around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, another landslide happened in Sitio Gaho, Barangay Osiao, Bacon District, Sorsogon City, killing two persons.
Calubaquib said more or less seven construction workers – checkers and laborers – of Tomas Rañola Construction (TRC) were buried by the landslide.
A report from the Bicol regional police stated that it was a barangay captain of Barangay Osiao in Sorsogon City who sought for police assistance over a possibility that at least seven victims, led by a certain Onyok, were buried in a landslide in Sitio Gaho.
Barangay Captain Tio Jio told police that Onyok gathered at least six workers of TRC to draw their salary from their office in Barangay Pampang also in Sorsogon City.
Onyok reportedly works as a checker for TRC. All the victims boarded a car in Barangay Osiao.
“They decided to walk later after their car was not able to pass a certain portion of a road in Barangay Osiao,” the report read.
During the incident, flooding was already sweeping some parts of Sorsogon City due to tropical depression Usman.
Sorsogon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) rescuer Edgar Tumangan said two died, four were rescued, four remain missing in the Sitio Gaho landslide. The rescue operation was led by CDRRMO chief Ramil Marianito and Christine Lee-Rodrigueza Balita.
Tumangan identified the fatalities as Gilbert Desunia, 22, and Gerald Despabiladeras.
Rescued were Mark Dagnalan Diolata, 28; John Carlo Lorilla, 15; John Robert Marcaida, 21; and Arjay Dulpina. They are now being treated at the Sorsogon Provincial Hospital.
Missing are Dominador Esquivel; Leonel Diaz, 14; Magno Deocareza Diaz, 40; and Franklin Olavere.
Evacuated
Jsar Adornado of the Office of Civil Defense-Bicol region said that at least 1,000 families or 3,907 individuals in Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes have been evacuated since Friday.
No power
The municipalities of Buhi, Del Gallego, Barangay Sta. Cruz in Presentacion town and Poblacion in Lupi, Camarines Sur, and Bulusan, Sorsogon remain without power as of presstime.
Power outage was also reported in various parts of Bicol, Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas as the grid and plants supplying electricity in the areas were affected.
Several roads and bridges in Camarines Sur, Albay and Catanduanes were also closed to vehicular traffic due to flooding and landslides.
Stranded passengers
Almost 20,000 passengers were reported stranded in various ports in the Visayas and Bicol regions as at least 14 areas were flooded in various parts of Bicol and Eastern Visayas. Several roads and bridges were also rendered impassable due to massive flooding. But they were allowed to travel after Usman dissipated into a low pressure area.
Police forces were earlier deployed in areas hit by the weather disturbance to help in pre-emptive evacuation and relief and rescue missions to the affected residents.
‘Usman’ weakens
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Usman made landfall around 6 a.m. Saturday and estimated the location of the LPA at 60 kilometers east of Romblon, Romblon, around 3 p.m.
PAGASA has lifted all tropical cyclone warnings after Usman weakened into an LPA.
But PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains will still prevail over Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and northern Palawan due to the LPA and tail-end of cold front.
Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will also persist over Metro Manila, Visayas, and the rest of Palawan.
Meanwhile light to moderate to at times heavy rains will persist over Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Abra due to the prevailing northeast monsoon or amihan.
Mindanao will have isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA warned the public to be alert against possible flooding and landslides over low-lying and mountainous areas.
It also warned fisherfolk from setting sail into the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, eastern and western coastlines of Southern Luzon, and eastern coast of Visayas due to rough seas triggered by the surge of amihan. The rough seas will be dangerous for small sea crafts.
PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the LPA is expected to leave the country's area of responsibility by Monday morning, and therefore, the weather condition is expected to improve throughout the country.