Typhoon Inday death toll in Mindanao hits 18; 14 persons missing

DAVAO CITY—The death toll in Mindanao due to the fury of Typhoon Inday (international name: Bavi) has risen to 18 on Saturday with 14 persons still missing.

Nine fatalities were reported in Malapatan, Sarangani, seven in Calanogas, Lanao del Sur, and two in Bukidnon.

Nine remain missing in Davao Occidental, one in Malapatan, Sarangani, and four in Calanogas, Lanao del Sur.

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Heavy rains dumped by Inday and the southwest monsoon or “habagat” triggered landslides that blocked roads and buried houses as well as flash floods that inundated low-lying communities across Mindanao on Friday.

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The rains continued on Saturday, slowing the search and rescue operations for landslide victims as well as the clearing of roads.

In Malapatan, Sarangani, a military chopper carried the remains of nine victims who were buried by rocks and mud in Sitio Blesong Fundao in Barangay Poblacion early on Friday.

Malapatan Mayor Salway Sumbo Jr. earlier requested the airlift operation as responders and volunteers had difficulty carrying the corpses to the town center as roads were blocked by debris.

In Calanogas, Lanao del Sur, the local government on Saturday accounted for seven fatalities from a pre-dawn landslide on Friday.

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According to Col. Caezar Cabuhat, Lanao del Sur police director, six of the victims were recovered by relatives and rescuers in Barangay Ngingir while one was found in a river in Barangay Pialot in Malabang town, some 14 kilometers from the landslide site.

Rescuers continue to search for four people who remain missing after the incident.

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On Saturday, the Calanogas local government had placed the entire town under a state of calamity, citing the massive destruction of roads and communities due to landslides triggered by days of heavy rains.

Aside from Ngingir, the villages of Inoma, Piksan and Mimbalawag were hardest hit by the landslides.

According to Mayor Abdul Hakim Benito, the Calanogas portion of the Malabang-Marawi City highway remained impassable on Saturday afternoon due to mud, rocks and other debris blocking the road.

In Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, Mayor Jason John Joyce said that authorities were searching for nine people who were swept by floods in Barangay Tanuman on Friday night amid heavy rains.

The floods also dumped debris into the village’s road, rendering it impassable as of Saturday afternoon.

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The rampaging waters also damaged the approach to a bridge. /gsg