Flood deaths: 8

Deaths due to drowning and landslides

THE death toll due to the continuous rainfall that triggered floods rose to eight while leaving three injured and displacing thousands in the region.

Based on the report of the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD 11) yesterday, the fatalities were identified as Sidela B. Mariano (59) and Demer Salio (12) in Davao Occidental; Ruyjen Banoon (11), Jekelyn M. Calanganon (8), Franklin

Gomobao (42), Bembem Cabisa (17) in Davao Oriental; and Rodrigo Digal Jr. (22) and Pablo Gador (47) in Compostela Valley.

The injured were identified as Jansen Mandras (33), a Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Rescue Personnel, Dalia Gador (47), from Compostela Valley, and Amelita Macpao (61), from Davao Oriental.

"Most cases were due to drowning and two died because of landslide," Cirunay said.

OCD 11 regional director Brigadier General Leoncio Cirunay yesterday said that the Disaster operations center in the region is under a continuous "Blue Alert" status and ready to respond to the current condition in Davao region although the country was placed under a white alert by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

"We will remain active in monitoring municipalities and cities," he said.

Cirunay said since the region is still expected to experience light to moderate rains in the coming days as they have not yet recommended the evacuees to return to their homes to ensure their safety until the weather condition improves.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) in Davao Oriental is closely monitoring the Aragon dam, one of Mindanao's biggest, in Barangay Aragon Cateel, Davao Oriental that reached alert level status and prompted the provincial government to conduct force evacuation among the communities residing nearby. But, as of yesterday, the water level was stable.

The continuous rain affected four provinces, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, and Compostella Valley; including 17 municipalities, and 46,823 families.

Records from the OCD 11 showed that 11,722 families across 16 municipalities have been displaced and are currently staying in 67 designated evacuation areas.JCR