Death toll from heavy rains in Mindanao, Visayas now at 20

KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO, Philippines — The death toll from Typhoon Inday (international name: Bavi) and the enhanced southwest monsoon (“habagat”) in Mindanao and the Visayas has risen to 20, as authorities continued search operations on Sunday for 13 people still missing following widespread flooding and landslides.

One of the latest victims was reported in Barangay Tanuman in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, after heavy rains and flash floods battered the municipality on July 10, damaging roads, inundating homes and isolating several communities.

As of 3 p.m. on Sunday, 13 people remained missing across Mindanao—eight in Jose Abad Santos, one in Malapatan, Sarangani, and four in Calanogas, Lanao del Sur.

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READ: Pagasa: Typhoon Inday exits PAR on Saturday morning

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Before Sunday’s fatality in Jose Abad Santos, authorities had recorded nine deaths in Malapatan, Sarangani, seven in Calanogas, Lanao del Sur, and two in Bukidnon.

Jose Abad Santos Mayor John Jason Joyce confirmed the latest fatality in a social media post, saying one person was also injured while search-and-rescue operations for the missing remained underway.

“Let us continue praying and stay safe,” Joyce told residents.

READ: 35 tourists stranded in Batanes as Inday exits PH

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He said the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office was continuing damage assessments in affected barangays, while search teams remained focused on locating the missing.

Heavy equipment from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the local government have been deployed to clear roads and restore access to isolated communities, he added.

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Joyce also thanked the Davao Occidental provincial government for extending assistance to the municipality, which was still recovering from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck on June 8.

In Iloilo, an elderly farmer died after a rain-soaked hillside collapsed and buried part of his home in the mountainous town of Tubungan before dawn on Sunday.

The victim was sleeping on the veranda when soil and mud crashed onto the house following hours of heavy rain, according to Tubungan Vice Mayor Leo Taypen.

Rescuers searched through the debris for more than 30 minutes before recovering the victim’s body. He was declared dead at the scene.

Sleepless night

Amor Pelite, a resident of Jose Abad Santos, said the rain intensified after 7 p.m. on July 10, prompting families to closely monitor rising floodwaters around their homes.

“We stayed awake the whole night because the rain kept pouring and the water continued to rise,” Pelite said.

By morning, the destruction was evident across several barangays.

In Barangay Tanuman, powerful floodwaters damaged roads, triggered soil erosion and cracking and left fallen trees, coconut fruits, rocks, mud and other debris strewn across roadways. Several roads became impassable to four-wheeled vehicles.

In Barangay Kalbay, floodwaters entered numerous homes, carrying rocks, tree branches and other debris. At least 20 households in Sitio Balantacon were affected.

Residents of Barangay Sugal also woke up to homes and establishments surrounded by floodwaters, mud, rocks and debris. In one residential compound, residents broke part of a perimeter wall to allow accumulated floodwater and mud to drain after tree branches and garbage clogged the main gate.

Elsewhere in Mindanao, flooding affected tens of thousands of families.

In Maguindanao del Sur alone, at least 62,000 families, or 309,707 individuals, were affected by widespread flooding and heavy rains brought by Typhoon Inday and southwest monsoon, according to provincial disaster response officials.

A situational report from the provincial government said flooding affected 159 barangays in all 19 municipalities of Maguindanao del Sur as of Friday, July 10.

Inday exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 8 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

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As of 11 a.m. on Sunday, the state weather bureau had not issued any rainfall warnings for Mindanao. —WITH A REPORT FROM HAZEL P. VILLA INQ