17 reported dead due to Typhoon Inday, Habagat —OCD

The reported fatalities due to the effects of Typhoon Inday (international name: Bavi) and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) has reached 17, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Saturday.

"Meron tayong 17 reported dead individuals. Marami diyan galing sa Malapatan, Sarangani. Merong lima from Lanao del Sur sa BARMM, at dalawa 'yung sa Bukidnon," OCD Deputy Administrator Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(We have 17 reported dead individuals. Many of these are from Malapatan, Sarangani. There were five from Lanao del Sur in BARMM, and two from Bukidnon.)

Alejandro said the deaths were mostly due to landslides brought about by heavy rains.

READ: Sarangani landslide death toll rises to 10; 2 children among fatalities

READ: 5 dead, 6 missing as landslide strikes Calanogas, Lanao del Sur

He added that the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Mindanao on June 8 could have possibly loosened the soil in the mountains and the rain saturated these areas, causing landslides. "Maari po 'yan. Kailangang imbestigahan itong maigi ng MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau) and PAGASA (That is possible. This has to be investigated well by MGB and PAGASA)," he said.

Some individuals were also reported missing but these are still being validated, he added.

"There were several injured individuals na reported pero mababa naman ito (but these are few)," Alejandro said.

Those affected by the effects of Typhoon Inday and the Habagat numbered 112,000 families, he said.

"As of this morning, mayroon na tayong (we have) 112,000 families more or less na directly affected ng Habagat at Typhoon Inday coming from 404 barangays from Region 2, CALABARZON, Region 3, 5 hanggang Region 12, BARMM and Zamboanga," Alejandro added.

Seventy-seven evacuation centers are currently housing 2,900 families or close to 11,000 individuals. Meanwhile, 7,000 families are staying outside evacuation centers and are being monitored by authorities, he said.

The OCD monitored 32 areas that were initially flooded but this number may go up as the effects of Habagat will be felt until Monday, according to Alejandro.

"Today heavy in Visayas specifically Aklan, then tataas sa Luzon, Regions 4B, 4A, 3, even NCR hanggang Zambales, Bataan and even Region 1 tataas hanggang bukas and Monday," he said, referring to the Habagat.

Sea travel

Seventy-three seaports canceled trips as of Saturday morning after PAGASA raised a gale warning over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon, as well as Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 2 over the northern portion of Batanes (Itbayat) and TCWS No. 1 over the rest of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes), the OCD official said.

A total of 305 passengers and 176 rolling cargoes were stranded as of Saturday morning, Alejandro said.

Damage, class suspensions

Alejandro added that there were reports of infrastructure damaged in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, 370 local government units suspended classes.

Assistance

A total of P16.4 million worth of food and non-food items including financial assistance were given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other agencies, Alejandro said.

The DSWD also prepositioned nationwide P4.7 million worth of family food packs. Meanwhile, 364,000 ready-to-eat food boxes were ready to be given out.

Alejandro said the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Philippine Coast Guard have been on red alert and their assets are on standby, with some already prepositioned in local government units.

"Tuloy ang pag-monitor at pagbigay natin ng assistance sa LGUs," he said.

(We continue to monitor and extend assistance to LGUs.)

For Saturday, the OCD and government agencies will focus on Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, Palawan, parts of NCR and Region 4A as these areas are expected to experience heavy rainfall starting today until Sunday, Alejandro said.

Kanlaon

Meanwhile, authorities are monitoring the areas around Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island after it erupted on July 9, Alejandro said.

"No. 1, wala nang tao sa Permanent Danger Zone," he said.

Authorities are on the alert if heavy rains will coincide with another eruption which may cause ashfall, mudflows and lahar flows.

"So far wala pang report na gumalaw ang lahar," Alejandro said.

He added that authorities will assist residents in communities that may be exposed to the movement of lahar in evacuating, if needed. —KG, GMA News