OCD: 9 dead, ₱105.4-M infra losses due to ‘Vicky'

At least nine people died in Leyte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur while four others are missing as tropical depression “Vicky” pounded Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas with torrential rains, consolidated reports of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) disclosed yesterday.

- MARTIN A. SADONGDONG, AARON RECUENCO, and ELLALYN V. RUIZ

OCD spokesperson Mark Timbal said three of the fatalities were recorded in Mahaplag, Leyte; three in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; and three in Surigao del Sur.

Timbal said they are still waiting for the official report from the concerned local government units (LGUs) to determine the cause of death of the fatalities.

Our verification is on-going. We have encountered the reports but the details are still up for confirmation, he said.

Mahaplag Mayor Daisy Lleve identified two of the fatalities in Leyte as Evelina Larano, 67; and Juvilinda Milana, 62, who both died in a landslide that hit Barangay Cuatro de Agosto on Saturday.

Governor Santiago Cane Jr. said the fatalities in Agusan del Sur were all from San Francisco town although their identities are yet to be confirmed.

Cane said two of the casualties drowned while trying to cross a river. The third casualty in the province was a man who also drowned when he attempted to cross a flooded road along with his wife using a motorcycle. The man's wife was rescued.

In Surigao del Sur, Governor Alexander Pimentel said all three fatalities died due to drowning at the height of Vicky's onslaught.

Some 1,590 families composed of 6,702 persons were evacuated in 57 barangays in Davao Region (Region 11) and Caraga (Region 13) as Vicky dumped heavy rains in a large part of Mindanao, according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad.