The death toll from devastating landslides and widespread flooding across Davao Region (Region 11) has already reached 14 as of Saturday, Feb. 3, according to authorities on the ground.

Since Jan. 28, heavy rains have battered Davao and Caraga (Region 13) due to the trough of a low pressure area (LPA) which caused flooding and landslides in some areas in Mindanao.

Based on a situation report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), five fatalities have been validated so far. But more deaths were being reported on the ground.

"Ang kumpirmadong namatay ay lima po ngunit mayroon tayong alam na information from the ground na under validation pa (We have confirmed five deaths but there are other information from the ground which are still under validation)," OCD Davao Region director Ednar Dayanghirang said in a radio interview over DZRH.

Among those killed was Purisa Sin-agan, 98. According to OCD-11, she died in a landslide in Brgy. Rotten, Monkayo, Davao de Oro on Feb. 2. 

Three others were hurt in the incident and they were identified as Marivic Tuas, Ronnie Tuas, and Maricris Tuas. They were brought to the Rural Health Unit (RHU) in Monkayo for treatment.

The provincial government of Davao de Oro also disclosed that a 76-year old woman and an unidentified man drowned in separate flooding incidents in Pantukan town. 

Another individual also drowned in the nearby municipality of Maco in Davao de Oro, the local government added.

Meanwhile, a family of four were killed in a landslide in Brgy. Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte early morning on Friday, Feb. 2.

"Their house was situated on the foot of a mountain. They were already advised to evacuate since cracks were seen on the upper portion of the mountain but they still stayed overnight. The following day, the landslide buried their house," Kapalong Mayor Maria Theresa Timbol said in a radio interview over dzBB.

Prior to this, the provincial government of Davao de Oro reported on Feb. 2 that six people also died in separate landslides in New Bataan and Maragusan towns.

500K persons affected

The flooding and landslides have already affected 529,583 individuals (143,047 families) in Davao Region and Caraga.

Of those affected, more than 240,000 people were displaced, including 70,148 individuals (18,177 families) who were staying in evacuation centers.