1 confirmed dead, 3 missing in Antique as hundreds evacuated
A person drowned and three others including two children remain missing in Antique as heavy and continuous rains brought by typhoons Falcon and Goring triggered flash floods and landslides in Western Visayas.
Rescuers found the remains of Richard Banesio, 21, in Barangay Bugnay in Valderrama town in Antique Sunday after he was covered by debris when a landslide occurred while he was on his way home, according to a report of the Antique Public Safety and Disaster Management Center.
The three missing included Edmar Jauod, 10, and Rizza Operiano, 9, of Bugasong town who were carried away by waters while crossing the Pangalcan River in Bugasong. Analyn Laude, 28, of Barangay Macarina in Patnongon town also went missing after she was carried by rampaging waters of the Macarina creek.
Broderick Train, executive officer of the Antique Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, said 22 families or 67 persons were evacuated Wednesday afternoon from Barangay San Antonio in Barbaza town after the Dalanas River overflowed. The families have been relocated to the barangay hall and health center.
In Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry Trenas City and School Superintendent Erlinda Gencaya yesterday issued and order suspending classes in the elementary and high school levels in both public and private schools as major parts of the city including schools were flooded with water reaching knee-high in many areas.
Private universities and colleges followed thereafter with the students allowed to go home by noon.
A standing directive is out that may call for possible cancellation of classes today depending on weather conditions. The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) has since launched Oplan Panawagan with hundreds of communicators serving as links in Iloilo barangays. Once the need arises, various communication services will be utilized including broadcast media outlets.
Rescue groups and disaster response teams have been alerted for the possible evacuation of residents living beside rivers. Traffic stalled in many areas after vehicles were stranded in flooded streets.
The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council reported that 6,364 families or 31,833 persons in 37 barangays in Negros Occidental have been affected by the flooding.