Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducts search and rescue operations in Nabua, Camarines Sur, the town is still flooded as a result of tropical storm "Kristine" onslaught. (photo: PCG Bicol)
At least 20 people died while four others were reported missing during the onslaught of tropical storm “Kristine” in Bicol region, a regional police official reported on Thursday, Oct. 24.
Police Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, director of the Police Regional Office 5, said most of the fatalities died of drowning as the weather disturbance triggered widespread deep flooding especially in Albay and Camarines Sur.
Dizon said the most number of fatalities were reported in Naga City with seven, followed by five in Catanduanes, and four in Albay, adding that there were one fatality each in the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and Masbate.
The four reported missing were in Masbate with two and one each in Albay and Camarines Sur.
Dizon, however, said the list of fatalities and missing persons is yet to be validated.
The latest update of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) only reported seven people dead and seven other people missing.
“Kristine” started pounding the Bicol region with heavy rains on Tuesday, Oct. 22 with weather experts saying that the weather disturbance unleashed a huge volume of water that Bicol residents only experienced 30 years ago.
As a result, widespread flooding were reported and the worst hit areas are the third district of Albay composed of Polangui, Libon, Oas and Ligao City while in Camarines Sur, the areas were Naga City, Iriga City, Nabua town and nearby areas.
Rescue ongoing
Dizon said rescue operations continue in Nabua town since the flooding in some areas is still over one meter.
“The concentration of our disaster response is in Ligao, Oas, Libon and Polangui in Albay and Naga City and Nabua in Camarines Sur,” said Dizon.
“So far, we need rubber boats with outboard motors so that our personnel could reach and maneuver in areas that could not be penetrated by big trucks,” he added.
Several rubber boats from Eastern Visayas and Calabarzon are now on their way to Bicol and Dizon said they are waiting for them to arrive to maximize the conduct of search and rescue operations.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has already sent one aluminum boat, two engine-operated rubber boats, 20 small fiberglass boats and 1,000 life vests. They are now on their way to Albay and Camarines Sur.
Meanwhile, several teams from the Philippine Coast Guard were already sent and are now helping in the conduct of search and rescue operations in severely flooded areas in Camarines Sur.
Severely flooded
Aside from Nabua town, other areas still flooded are Bula town in Camarines Sur and Libon town in Albay.
Dizon said his men have been reaching out to local residents who have been staying either at the second floor of their house or at the roof of their bungalow-type houses.
“The problem is that it is really difficult to reach their areas. We are doing our best to reach them at least by giving them ready to eat meals,” said Dizon.