As rains subside, Caraga flash floods, landslide claim 16 lives, P300-M damaged in agri, infra 

by Ben Serrano

January 8, 2011

 

            BUTUAN CITY- As rains subsided yesterday and today in almost all parts of Caraga Region, the Office of Civil Defense here in its initial official final reports recorded 16 deaths and P300-M worth of government infrastructure, agricultural crops, livestock, fisheries and others were destroyed by flashfloods and landslides in almost all five provinces in the region.

 

             The flash floods and landslides were brought about by intermittent downpour of rain that hit most parts of the region since January 1 to January 4 this year due to cold front of the tail end according to weather bureau Pag-asa. 


              Environmental groups blamed rapid deforestation due unabated illegal logging, slash and burn Kaingin and mining that caused the worst flash flood so far in recent years that hit the natural resources rich Caraga region. 


             They claimed rain downpour is only moderate  but due to no trees anymore in the forests and uplands whose roots hold water, flash floods and landslides occurred killing 16 people and hundreds of millions pesos of property damaged.


            Records from regional office of the Philippine Information Agency here on the other hand clamed 16 persons due drowning and electrocution were killed, there of the victims were minors while 2 injured and three missing.

 

             Both OCD and PIA identified the casualties as as Dondie Carl Bolante, 6, resident of P-2 Brgy. Magsaysay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur who was first reportedly missing but was found dead due drowning due strong current in Wawa River. Michael Rodrigo Otero, 12, resident of Purok 4, Libertad, Bunawan, electrocuted; Manuel Madelo, 28, resident of Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, also electrocuted; Junmark Lara Castro, 23. Sitio Caniyugan, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur. 

 

            Felicitas Mabras Macuno, 65, resident of Barangay Salvadpr, Prosperidad; Roselyn Buhayang Porras, 16, resident of Barangay Tagoyango, Sibagat; and  Ceasar Alisna Aquilan, 50, of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur , all in the province of Agusan del Sur. Said casualties were all victims of drowning as flood waters rises in their area. 

 

Other casualties were; Francisco Tablon Eclipse, 70. Sitio Sabang, Barangay Magsaysay, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte and Roberto Dalangin, 35, of Barangay. Camilan, Tubod, Surigao del Norte; Both died of drowning. 

 

Two who died at the height of continuous rains that may have landslide when their mining tunnel caved in Barangay Maibo, Butuan City were small scale miners;  Dioscoro Albiro, 17 and Shielo Carrido, 40, both residents of Barangay Maibo, Butuan City.

 

OCD has added three more casualties whose reports coming from Surigao del Sur arrived late to their office due difficulty in getting the identities of the victims and causes of their deaths.

 

Three casualties due drowning in Surigao del Sur province were Ramil Lamigo Bobiles, 36, Barangay Tina, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, Alberto ParadaƱa Rebasora, 50, Barangay Tabon, Mangagoy, Bislig City and Rustico Lamigo Pacaldo, 38, Barangay Mat-I, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur.

 

           Two other casualties were added in Agusan del Sur; these were Amando E. Batilaran, 70, resident of Barangay Caimpugan, San Francisco town and Bryle Jake Mondejar, 1 year old, resident of Don Alejandro, San Luis. The two died due drowning.

 

            The province of Agusan del Sur recorded the most number of death s with 9 persons either by drowning and electrocution followed by Agusan del Sur with3, Agusan del Norte, 3 and Surigao del Norte , one casualty.

 

            Damages of government infrastructures such as roads, bridges and schools were pegged at P212,280,653.23 or P212.20-M; Agriculture sector damages totaled to P62,643,359.00 or P62-M, other crops P7,565,825.00, livestock damaged reached to P221,290.00, and fishery sector damages reached to P15,349,600.00.

 

            A total of 142 houses were either partially or totally damaged or washed away by strong current brought about by flash floods in the five provinces of Caraga region. (-30-)