Landslides, bloated rivers leave 15 dead in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) – After 4 days of heavy downpour, Typhoon Ineng (international name: Goni) left the Cordillera region with 15 dead, including a one-year-old female, and 15 of its major roads impassable due to massive landslides.

According to a consolidated report from the Office of the Civil Defense-Cordillera, of the 15 who died, 13 were buried in landslides, while two were retrieved drowned by swollen rivers.

Landslides also injured 8 individuals and totally wrecked 23 houses.

The identities of the casualties due to landslide, as validated by the Department of Heath-Cordillera, are as follows:

• Ycher Mayon (previously reported as Yckir), 10, male, from Namatec, Sabangan, Mt Province
• Markin Celo, 21, male, from Bakun, Benguet
• Erwin Celo (previously reported as Eric), 26, male, from Bakun, Benguet
• Michael Martin Lagasan, 59, male, Palatog, Tabio, Mankayan Benguet
• Glen Baldasan Poloc, 27, male, from Geweng Cabiten, Mankayan, Benguet
• Michael Felix, 58, male, from Bangao, Buguias, Benguet
• Nova Mae Diaz Tuazon, 17, female, from Cotot, Bulalacao, Mankayan, Benguet
• Nole Galidan Lubante, Jr., 21, male, from Cotot, Bulalacao, Mankayan, Benguet
• Jorie Beliano Catubing ,1, female, from Topdac, Atok, Benguet
• Crispin Ablao, 22, male, from Taneg, Mankayan, Benguet
• Felimon Adcapan, 23, male, from Taneg, Mankayan, Benguet
• Armando Dayaw,male, from Taneg, Mankayan, Benguet
• Jasper Sipian Olivarez, 20, male, from Taneg, Mankayan, Benguet

Meanwhile, drowned in two separate incidents were:

• Mark June Honrado Tobias, 24, male, from Brgy. Quidaoen San Juan Abra
• Julius Gumisa, 26, male, from Caluttit, Bontoc, Mt. Province (retrieved at Brgy. Suyang, Tabuk City)

In Mankayan, Benguet, 12 small-scale miners are still considered missing as rescue operations are being conducted after an immense landslide entombed 4 shanties they were occupying at around 4 am on Saturday, August 22, in Sitio Elizabeth, Taneg.

On Monday, August 24, Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan declared the entire province under state of calamity.

Meanwhile, 15 major roadways are still closed and undergoing clearing operations due to series of landslides, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera:

• Baguio – Bua – Itogon Road (Benguet)
• Gurel – Bokod – Kabayan – Buguias Road (Benguet)
• Acop – Kapangan – Kibungan -Bakun Road (Benguet)
• Buguias – Abatan Road (Benguet)
• Sabangan Detour, Baguio – Bontoc Road (Benguet-Mt Province)
• Camp 2-Camp 8, Kennon Road (Benguet)
• Mountain Province – Cagayan via Tabuk – Enrile Road
• Junction – Talubin – Barlig – Natonin – Paracelis – Calacad Road
• Mt. Province – Ilocos Sur via Tue Road
• Mt. Province- Ilocos Sur via Kayan Road
• Abra – Kalinga Road
• Banaue – Hungduan – Benguet Boundary Road
• Kalinga – Abra Road
• Abra-Cervantes Road (Mid-span of Baay Bridge further deteriorated due to swelling of Abra River)
• Abra – Ilocos Norte Road (Danglas section)

Relentless rains saturated the Cordillera with more than 700 millimeters of rainfall, far beyond the 150 millimeters threshold, causing fatal landslides across the region.

As of 3 am Monday morning, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera have listed 730 families (13,788 persons) affected by the typhoon. Of the 730 families, 44 were evacuated to schools, churches, and muti-purpose building.

Abra listed 103 partially damaged houses and 3 totally damaged infrastructure amounting to more than P65 million according to the OCD report. Only Apayao province has its electric power totally restored with other barangays and municipalities in the other provinces still on blackout.

All gates are opened in Ambukalo Dam and Binga Dam as water levels have reached above critical point. – Rappler.com