OCD: 9 dead, ₱105.4-M infra losses due to ‘Vicky’
At least nine people died in Leyte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur while four others are missing as tropical depression “Vicky” pounded Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas with torrential rains, consolidated reports of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) disclosed yesterday.
OCD spokesperson Mark Timbal said three of the fatalities were recorded in Mahaplag, Leyte; three in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; and three in Surigao del Sur.
Timbal said they are still waiting for the official report from the concerned local government units (LGUs) to determine the cause of death of the fatalities.
"Our verification is on-going. We have encountered the reports but the details are still up for confirmation," he said.
Mahaplag Mayor Daisy
Lleve identified two of the fatalities in Leyte as Evelina Larano, 67; and Juvilinda Milana, 62, who both died in a landslide that hit Barangay Cuatro de Agosto on Saturday.
Governor Santiago Cane Jr. said the fatalities in Agusan del Sur were all from San Francisco town although their identities are yet to be confirmed.
Cane said two of the casualties drowned while trying to cross a river. The third casualty in the province was a man who also drowned when he attempted to cross a flooded road along with his wife using a motorcycle. The man's wife was rescued.
In Surigao del Sur, Governor Alexander Pimentel said all three fatalities died due to drowning at the height of Vicky's onslaught.
Some 1,590 families composed of 6,702 persons were evacuated in 57 barangays in Davao Region (Region 11) and Caraga (Region 13) as Vicky dumped heavy rains in a large part of Mindanao, according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad.
A total of 25 areas were also flooded in Bislig City in Surigao del Sur; Prosperidad, San Francisco, and Rosario in Agusan del Sur; Bais City, Amian, and Tanjay City in Negros Oriental.
Infra damage
“Vicky,” the 22nd storm to hit the country this year, dealt some P105.4 million in infrastructure losses in Caraga, Jalad said. Assessment on the agricultural damage is still on-going.
Six road sections and a bridge sustained damages in Caraga, Eastern Visayas (Region 8), and Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) which hampered access to the affected regions.
Jalad said “Vicky” damaged the Maragusan-Pantukan Road and a portion of a road in Barangay Malamudao in Maco town. Both are located in Davao de Oro.
The Agusan-Davao sections of Daang Maharlika and the NRJ San Francisco-Bahi-Borobo Road in Agusan del Sur were rendered impassable due to soil collapse.
The Tacloban-Baybay South Road in Mahaplag, Leyte, was rendered impassable due to soil erosion while the Panalian Bridge in the boundary of Silago-Abuyog Road in Southern Leyte was closed to public due to flooding.
Dozens of families will also spend the Christmas holidays homeless as 83 houses were reported damaged in Cebu, Jalad said.
Reports from ground commanders in affected regions said 1,038 families are staying in various evacuation centers, mostly in the Caraga and Davao regions.
Police have been instructed to assist in disaster management operations for “Vicky,” especially in areas in Mindanao which weather experts said would suffer the brunt of Vicky’s onslaught.
More than 500 individuals were reported to have been rescued by the PNP in Mindanao from widespread flooding.
Massive flooding was monitored in Caraga that was likened to the one brought by typhoon “Ulysses.”
Thousands of policemen in Visayas and Mindanao have been mobilized to assist in preemptive evacuation and in relief and rescue missions. Hundreds of policemen were instructed to secure evacuation centers.
The PNP said 15 areas in Caraga have no electricity while 24 areas in Eastern Visayas have no communication lines.
‘Vicky’ on its way out
Tropical depression “Vicky” is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Sunday but a new lowpressure area (LPA) has formed east of Catandunes which may also bring rains over the country.
In its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the location of Vicky at 135 kilometers (kms) east-southeast of Kalayaan, Palawan. It is likely to exit the PAR in the afternoon.
After its exit, PAGASA said Vicky will move southwest as it comes under the full influence of the surge of the northeast monsoon or “amihan.”
It is also seen to intensify into a tropical storm in the next 24 hours.
Due to “Vicky,” tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Kalayaan Islands.
PAGASA said the LPA was monitored 140 kms east of Virac, Catanduanes, although it may less likely develop into a tropical depression within 24 hours.
PAGASA said the combined effects of the tail-end of frontal system, Vicky, and LPA may bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over mainland Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Aurora, Quezon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, and northern portion of Palawan, including Calamian Islands, and Kalayaan Islands.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may also affect Babuyan Islands, Metro Manila, Northern Samar, Abra, Benguet, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and the rest of Palawan.