Inday’s wrath: Landslides kill 15 as floods sweep communities

National

INDAY intensified the southwest monsoon, triggering deadly landslides and widespread flooding that left at least 15 people dead, displaced thousands and disrupted classes, transport and sea travel across several regions.

The worst-hit areas were in Mindanao, where rain-soaked slopes collapsed and buried homes in Sarangani and Lanao del Norte. A separate drowning incident was also reported in Bukidnon as persistent rains continued to affect communities.

According to a Philstar report, Office of Civil Defense Region 12 director Rodrigo Sosmeña said 10 people died in Barangay Poblacion, Malapatan, Sarangani, after a landslide buried a house occupied by members of two Blaan families.

The fatalities were identified as spouses Alejandro and Gina Maladian and their three sons, along with Ricky Yaton, his wife Bon and their three sons.

In Calanogas, Lanao del Norte, police said continuous rains caused a hillside collapse at around 2:30 a.m. in Barangay Ngingir, triggering a landslide that swept through several houses. Five people were killed, two were injured and six others remained missing.

Rescue teams from the Calanogas police and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office were deployed, but responders took about three hours to reach the site, located around 10 kilometers from the police station, because debris blocked access roads.

Capt. Steffie Salanguit, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, citing initial reports from local police and Lanao del Sur provincial police director Col. Caesar Cabuhat, identified the fatalities as Norhana Ali, Akmad Camar, Naifa Mansawi, Juhary Muhshin and Norhaya Camar.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also reported that a 50-year-old man drowned on July 8 after being “swept by strong currents while crossing the spillway” in Barangay Managok, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The NDRRMC said Inday and the enhanced southwest monsoon have affected 49,422 people in Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and Soccsksargen, with 3,433 individuals staying in 22 evacuation centers.

Flooding in Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte affected more than 30,000 residents after rivers overflowed due to days of heavy rain, according to Bangsamoro officials. Emergency responders from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro were deployed to assist local governments.

In Negros Occidental, around 1,900 residents from four municipalities were displaced as floods prompted evacuations, class suspensions and temporary restrictions on sea travel.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported 789 passengers stranded in 58 ports as of noon Thursday due to rough seas. It also recorded stranded cargoes, vessels and motorbancas across several regions.

Although Inday is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the cyclone will continue enhancing the southwest monsoon and bringing rains over parts of Luzon and the Visayas.(MyTVCebu)