NDRRMC: Infra damage due to Mindanao floods, landslides hits P738M

Heavy rains which resulted in flooding and landslides in Mindanao have left a total of P738.6 million worth of damage to infrastructure, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday.

Based on NDRRMC's latest situational report, Caraga sustained P473 million worth of damage to 32 infrastructure facilities. Davao Region came next with P265.6 million as 134 infrastructure facilities were affected.

A total of 1,344 houses were also damaged in the Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and Caraga from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 because of the rains brought about by the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) and the trough of a now-dissipated low pressure area.

Of these houses, 786 were partially damaged, while 558 were totally damaged.

Ninety six roads and 16 bridges in these three regions also remained impassable as of Sunday, NDRRMC said.

Floods and landslides have also affected 1,389,073 individuals or 415,494 families in 818 barangays in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Region.

Nearly 50,000 people remained in evacuation centers, while more than 300,000 sought temporary shelters elsewhere.

Deadly Maco landslide

In Maco, Davao de Oro, the provincial government said Saturday that 35 dead bodies were already recovered due to the landslide, while 77 people were still missing.

The landslide in Maco happened last Tuesday outside a gold mining site, burying homes, as well as two buses and a jeep that were supposed to transport employees of the mining company.

On Sunday morning, Davao de Oro 2nd District Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga said the search and rescue operations continue at the landslide site.

"'Yung Ground Zero may population 'yan kasi isang barangay 'yan… may 55 to 60 houses na natabunan ng lupa. We are accounting the residents, members of the community na nandoon at miyembro o empleyado ng kumpanya na sumakay ng buses at saka mga transient na pumasok nu'ng gabing 'yun," he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(At Ground Zero, which is a barangay, 55 to 60 houses were buried in the landslide. We are accounting for the residents and company employees on board the buses, as well as the transient visitors.)

"So far, mayroong tatlong survivors. And as to this date, may na-retrieve na 35 cadavers or body counts and may dine-declare na missing 70-plus pa rin," he added.

(So far, there are three survivors, 35 retrieved cadavers, and 70-plus still missing.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News