Usman death toll hits 57

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — At least 37 people died while eight remained missing after Tropical Depression Usman and a low-pressure area triggered landslides and flash floods in Bicol the other day.

Claudio Yucot, director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Bicol, fears the death toll will still rise as reports continue to arrive at Camp General Simeon Ola here.

He told a press conference that 12 of the fatalities were from Albay, nine from Camarines Sur, seven from Masbate, six from Sorsogon and three from Camarines Norte.

There was no report yet from Catanduanes as of yesterday afternoon.

At least eight persons were reported missing either due to landslides or flooding in Tiwi, Albay.

Rescue operations continued in the hard-hit areas of Buhi, Nabua and Baao towns as well as Iriga City in Camarines Sur as some houses were totally submerged in floodwater.

“We have sent our military trucks, rubber boats and other rescue assets to assist affected residents. Some of them, particularly in Buhi town, are staying on the roofs of their houses,” Yucot told The STAR.

He placed the initial damage to agriculture at P253 million as of 2 p.m. yesterday.

In Barangay San Vicente, Baao, Camarines Sur, a family of five died when their house was buried in a landslide at around midnight yesterday. According to some witnesses, the victims were sleeping when the landslide struck their house.

The Bicol Police said rescuers were able to retrieve their bodies only late in the morning. The fatalities — all surnamed De Lima — were identified as Babylyn, 29; Jielin, 14; Jieben, 12; Benjie, 10; and Vincent Jersey, one-year-old.

Landslide incidents resulting in deaths were also reported in other places in Bicol.

From Barangay Maynonong, the fatalities — all surnamed Consulta — were identified as Ranel, 45, Shamair, 10, and Jasmine, 7; and Ruben Convencido of Barangay Bariis.

In Barangay Sogod, Tiwi, those who died were identified as Nimrod Bobis, 40; Gabriel Ignacio, 11; Rita Climacosa, 52; Mark Angelo Simbulan, 15, and Niño Angeline Bobis, 6.

Legazpi City reported at least three deaths — Mia Loreto, 20; Mauro Alegre, 26; and Marco Alegre, three.

Also reported dead were Charles Las Penas, 51, of Barangay Guibahoy, Lagonoy town.

Camarines Sur reported the deaths by drowning John Lloyd Bron, 3, of Barangay Pambuhan in Garchitorena town and Ricardo Mancera of Barangay Salog, Goa.

In Masbate, only six of seven who reportedly drowned were identified—Susana Celeste, 46, Minang Cahilig, 11, and Rosana Cahilig, 9, of Barangay Nonoc, Claveria town; Juan Francisco Ingante, 44, of Barangay Marintoc, Mobo; Estinile Papillera, 53, of Barangay Mandali, Mobo; and Manilyn Catarinan, 27, of Barangay Dapdap, Uson.

One Jun Nerza, 50, reportedly died after getting hit by a fallen tree.

In Sorsogon, the OCD identified the fatalities from landslides as Angelina Gerona, 91, of Barangay Palale in Bulan town; Gerald Despabiladeras, 14, of Barangay Gajo, Bacon town; Gilbert Desunia, 22, of Bacon District, Sorsogon City; and Dominador Esquivel, and Franklin Olevere, of Barangay Osiao, Bacon District.

It added that Jaime Morico, 70, of Barangay Managanaga, Bulan town in Sorsogon, died of drowning.

Camarines Norte reported the deaths of Amy del Rosario, 37, and her sons Joshua, 9, and Allan, 6. They were allegedly buried in the landslide that struck Barangay Pinagwarasan, Basud town.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also reported recovering the bodies of seven residents of Barangay Nato in Sagnay town, Camarines Sur although their names were not immediately available as of yesterday afternoon.

Capt. Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, said teams were sent to nearby Nabua town to help in the rescue operations.

State of calamity

The provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur, and Bulan town in Sorsogon were placed under a state of calamity.

Usman stranded at least 40,542 passengers nationwide as the PCG prevented seacraft from leaving port.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has mobilized its quick response teams in regions affected by Usman to assist local government units responding to the needs of their constituents.

The DSWD Field Office (FO) in Region 5 has sent 216 family food packs amounting to P93,744 for stranded passengers in Pilar town, Sorsogon while the DSWD-FO6 in Western Visayas also aided stranded passengers in Iloilo and Dumangas ports with 870 packs.

The DSWD-FO7 in Central Visayas served dinner to at least 75 stranded passengers at the Cebu City Port.

In Davao Oriental, the DSWD is also closely monitoring the situation of residents affected by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake last Saturday.

Assistant Secretary Glenda Relova said the “DSWD Central Office, Field Offices, and the National Resource Operations Center have stockpiles and standby funds amounting to 1,274,278,561.78 which can readily be used to respond to emergency situations.”  – With Edu Punay, Michael Punongbayan, Rainier Allan Ronda, Emmanuel Tupas