LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Bicol has recorded six fatalities due to severe tropical storm “Kristine.
Gremil Naz, OCD-Bicol information officer, said these fatalities as of Thursday morning, Oct. 24, were from the provinces of Masbate and Catanduanes.
Naz said that four individuals were buried alive in Caramoran town in Catanduanes due to landslide on Oct. 22, a 22-year-old man died in Palanas town in Masbate as he was hit by a fallen tree branch, and a 71-year-old man died after falling off the roof of his house.
Four individuals were injured: Three in Caramoran town in Catanduanes due to landslide and one in Labo town, Camarines Norte from a vehicular accident.
He said that the death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue.
"Expected po na tataas pa ‘yan kasi may nakukuha na po tayong mga information pero wala pang official reports. Sa ngayon patuloy pa ang rescue operations kasi may mga lugar pa rin na lubog sa baha," Naz said.
(The death toll is expected to go up. We have been receiving information but no official reports yet. Rescue operations continue in areas that are still flooded)
Naz said that five fishermen are missing in Masbate – four in San Fernando town and one in the municipality of Dimasalang.
He added that 345,548 families or 1,669,507 persons were affected and 47,924 families or 183,429 persons are still staying in evacuation centers in the Bicol region.
In Albay province, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) officer-in-charge Engr. Dante Baclao said that three persons died in town of Guinobatan from a landslide.
He said that most affected residents experienced severe flooding and landslide. No individual was affected from lahar by Mayon Volcano.
Baclao said unlike in previous tropical cyclones where the towns of Guinobatan, Camalig, and Daraga and Legazpi City and Ligao City were affected due to lahar flow, the municipalities of Polangui, Libon, and Oas were devastated by flooding.
These towns are situated few kilometers away from the foot of Mayon Volcano.
"Sa bayan ng Libon may naireport po sa atin na massive landslide," Baclao said.
(There was a massive landslide reported in the town of Libon)
Baclao said that the town of Pio Duran remains isolated after a part of the national road in Barangay Bacong in Ligao City collapsed due to heavy rain.
"Sarado din ‘yung kalsada kung dadaan ka ng Libon dahil sa tubig baha. Pero maaring makapasok ng Pio Duran kung dadaan sa bayan ng Donsol kasi maayos yung kalsada doon," he said.
(The road in Libon connecting Pio Duran is closed. But you can enter Pio Duran through Donsol because the road is passable)
Meanwhile, the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office rescued an elderly man from area in Irosin, Sorsogon flooded by Kristine's heavy rains.
AN ELDERLY man is all smiles as he is rescued from his flooded home in Irosin, Sorsogon.
The man was all smiles as he was transported to safety onboard a styrofoam box.
The Sorsogon PPO said this shows the resiliency of Filipinos in times of disasters.
“Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok, ang ngiti ng bawat Pinoy ay nagsisilbing ilaw na nagbibigay ng pag-asa at lakas,” the Sorsogon PPO said in a Facebook post on Thursday, Oct. 24.
Pregnant woman rescued
The Philippine Red Cross rescued a 20-year-old pregnant woman from raging flood waters spawned by Kristine on Oct. 22 in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon after showing signs that she was about to give birth.
Nica was taken to the Sorsogon Provincial Hospital in Sorsogon City where a doctor determined her pain was not labor-related but false labor due to stress.
They returned to their home as floodwater began to recede and thanked the PRC for their swift assistance.
PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon commended the PRC units for their efforts in rescuing Nica.