DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/21 Jan) ¬– A total of 810 families were rendered homeless as P850 million worth of infrastructure and crops were damaged due to the continuous heavy rains that caused floods in the Davao Region, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
Barangay Darong in Sta. Cruz town sustained the most damage with 391 houses destroyed, according to OCD’s Rebecca Lopez. “The families are currently housed in evacuation centers within their municipality,” she said during Kapehan sa PIA.
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The International Pipe Industries in Barangay Darong sustained about P200 million in damages.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA-XI), Sta. Cruz attained more damages because a tornado hit the municipality, causing the Sibulan River to overflow.
The OCD’s report said that P1.9-million worth of buildings and other structures in the city were destroyed and that about P130,000 worth of vegetables, bananas and cacao were also damaged due to flashfloods that peaked on Jan. 16 and 17.
Lopez said five persons, including a one-year-old girl, died from flashfloods. The fatalities were identified as Ellen Mae Iligan, 13; Oshelyn Navia, 1; and Marieto Cadorna, 54, all of Barangay Darong; Melanio Bintas, 46, of Panabo City, Davao del Norte; and Lamberto Cortez, 13, of Tarragona, Davao Oriental.
Three-year-old Arnold Montejara, also of Darong, died after eating rotten fruit he found in the river.
Seven-year-old Jerry Cortez of Tarragona is still missing as of press time.
Lopez said the injured victims were immediately brought to the Southern Philippines Medical Center for treatment. (MindaNews)
