ILOILO CITY – The number of casualties in Capiz province hit by massive flooding during tropical storm Agaton rose to 19 with one still missing, according to the data released by the Capiz Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (Capiz PDRRMO).
Most of these victims drowned, Capiz PDRRMO Chief Judy Grace Pelaez told Manila Bulletin in a phone interview on Monday.
Of these casualties, five were from the town of Panitan. They were Dominador Drilon, Jhelo Daliva, Syriel Degoma, and Bianito Denosta. The four casualties were among those onboard two motorized boats, which were supposed to deliver relief goods but rammed into a concrete bridge because of the river’s strong current last April 13.
The only other passenger of the ill-fated boat was Alberto Duron who remains missing.
The bodies of Degoma and Denosta were found in Gigantes Island in Carles town, Ilolo province.
The fifth casualty in Panitan was Stephen Besa.
The towns of Maayon, Panay and Sigma lost three residents each in the flood.
Authorities identified the victims from Maayon town as brothers Joselito and Monito Dequino and Tammy Luces.
The casualties in Panay were Juan Bulaclac, Melvin Bulao and Melvin Bunda, while victims from Sigma town were Francis Lozora Jore, Fernando Carillo and a 17-year-old boy.
The Pontevedra town was not spared as two of its residents, Richard Villasis and Nita Villariña, also perished when they drowned.
The three other casualties were identified as Edgar Villareal of Roxas City, Alexander Andrade of Mambusao town and Rodolfo Jeffrey Bacolod of Pilar town.
Meanwhile, Alberto Duron remains missing. Duron was another passenger in the ill-fated boat in Panitan town.