Saturday, June 16, 2012

Floods leave 88 missing in Sarangani

..DAVAO (Updated) – The disaster management council said 88 people remained missing as of Wednesday, a day after flash floods ravaged a town in Sarangani province.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said two of the missing victims are from Glan town, while 86 are from a neighboring town. Most of them are fishermen who were only caught in the heavy rainfall that hit Glan town starting Tuesday.

Glan Mayor James Victor Yap approved on Wednesday a resolution declaring the town, where 568 families in 20 villages are affected, under state of calamity.

Hundreds of displaced families are staying in evacuation centers at the Barangay Hall of Big Margus, Small Margus, Pangyan and Cross villages of Glan.

While 75 others were rescued, two men were confirmed dead. Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez identified the victims as Sagapo Cabigding, 63, and Rolando Mata, 40.

Initial report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council named 40 of the 75 rescued victims – Diome Alberta, Benito Escan Jr., Romilio Apitan, Jay Agot, Daril Nacion, Bonivien Gaerian, Diosdado Papasin, Boyet Tagalo, Cerilo Digollado, Pedro Mendez, Nomar Villagonzalo, Mark Jun Mendez, Rick Rogen, Erwin Sombreno, Ramilo Abe, Armando Cabreros, Floro Marzalado, Alberto Cahera, Raul Sigle, Mario Lagarte, Ruderick Talinting, Raymond Sayrante, Ruben Mantalaba, Radji Saynare, Rodolfo Sabra, Maximo Peo, Florentino Sardido, Joel Sardido, Allan Asunto, Desederio Asunto, Jerry Agot, Boyet Reymando, San Lorenzo Reymando, Renato Carbiz, Edward Rosiana, Danilo Abare, Romeo Restaura, Rodrigo Villaroza, Isidro Tapan and Mario Gabay.

The remaining 35 are yet to be identified.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the flashflood was due to the low pressure area in Southern Mindanao.

Major Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, chief of the Army's 10th Infantry Division's Civil Military Operation Battalion, said fish ponds, water reservoir and fishing boats were also destroyed aside from the 250 damaged houses.

Obligado said the Disaster Relief and Rescue Units of the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion and the Glan police are conducting rescue and relief operations in the flooded areas. (ICT with Ben O. Tesiorna of Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)

..