The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) was verifying reports that a man went missing after getting swept by the strong river current in Manay, Davao Oriental due to Tropical Depression "Kabayan".
According to reports quoting police officials in Manay, a man was swept away while gathering coconuts that were floating on Casaoman River amid the bad weather.
NDRRMC information officer Easha Mariano said on Monday, Dec. 18, that the Council has yet to receive a report about any missing individual due to Kabayan as of this writing.
She, however, added that local DRRM officers in Manay were already directed to confirm the report so that search and rescue operations may be initiated.
Relatedly, rescue vehicles of the provincial government of Davao Oriental, including two dump trucks, one backhoe, and one payloader have been deployed to the affected areas in the province's east coast towns to aid in the ongoing rescue and evacuation operations of affected individuals.
Extensive flooding and landslides were reported in Barangay Pichon, Caraga, Davao Oriental which caused significant damage to several houses and roads, according to the provincial government.
Authorities have yet to disclose if there were casualties related to the incidents although the NDRRMC has not yet recorded any casualty linked to Kabayan.
Barangay Pichon, which is home to Mandaya communities, has been isolated following the collapse of the Lamiawan Bridge which serves as the only link connecting Pichon to Poblacion area, according to the provincial government.
"In response, authorities are actively collaborating to extend assistance and reach the isolated communities," the Davao Oriental provincial government said in a Facebook post.
Kabayan, which made landfall over Manay, and the prevailing shearline have displaced more than 6,000 individuals in Caraga (Region 13).
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno assured local government units (LGUs) affected by Kabayan that the national government is ready to extend immediate assistance to them.