Over a dozen dead from ‘Inday,’ Habagat — OCD
Authorities are looking into whether the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on 8 June may have loosened mountain slopes.
Authorities are looking into whether the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on 8 June may have loosened mountain slopes.
At least 17 people have died as typhoon “Inday” (international name: Bavi) and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) triggered landslides, flooding and widespread disruptions across the country, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Saturday.
OCD deputy administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said most of the fatalities were caused by landslides brought about by days of heavy rain.
“We have 17 reported deaths. Many were from Malapatan, Sarangani. Five were from Lanao del Sur in BARMM, while two were from Bukidnon,” Alejandro said in a radio interview.
He said authorities are looking into whether the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on 8 June may have loosened mountain slopes, making them more vulnerable to rain-induced landslides.
“That is possible. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) need to conduct a thorough investigation,” he said.
Reports of missing persons are still being validated, while only a small number of injuries have been recorded, he added.
The OCD said more than 112,000 families from 404 barangays across Regions 2, 3, 4-A, 5, 12, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Zamboanga Peninsula have been affected.
A total of 2,900 families, or nearly 11,000 individuals, are staying in 77 evacuation centers, while another 7,000 families remain outside evacuation facilities but continue to be monitored by local authorities.
Alejandro said 32 flooded areas have so far been reported, although the number could still increase as the southwest monsoon is expected to continue bringing heavy rain through Monday.
The heaviest rainfall is forecast over parts of Western Visayas on Saturday before shifting to Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, Zambales, Bataan and parts of Region 1 over the next two days.
Maritime travel also remained disrupted, with 73 ports suspending operations after PAGASA raised gale warnings over Northern Luzon and placed parts of Batanes and Cagayan under tropical cyclone wind signals.
As of Saturday morning, 305 passengers and 176 rolling cargoes were stranded in various ports.
Alejandro added that damage to infrastructure has also been reported in parts of Mindanao, although assessment teams are still validating the extent of the destruction.
