Flood-stricken Mindanao appeals for help as death toll climbs to 21

National

THE death toll from Typhoon Inday has climbed to 21 as residents in flood-hit areas appealed for immediate humanitarian aid.

The relentless rain from July 10 to July 12 caused floods and landslides that displaced 450 families in Barangay Mudan, Glan, Saranggani province.

Residents were staying in evacuation sites and in need of food, water, tents, and construction materials after their community was flooded, Mudan barangay chairman Julieta Embajador said in a report by the Inquirer.net.

The flooding was a result from an upstream landslide that obstructed a stream and created an artificial dam that collapsed after days of heavy rainstorm, according to the residents.

Renan Embajador, a resident, advised authorities to respond immediately to avoid a possible surge of substantial amounts of water that could still be trapped in the mountain.

According to Glan Vice Mayor Victor James Yap Jr., both the municipal office of Glan and the provincial government of Saranggani have already coordinated with agencies such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Air Force to conduct an aerial survey of the area.

In Barangay Tanuman, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, rescuers confirmed that three bodies were recovered after their search and rescue operation on Sunday, adding to the rising number of fatalities in the region.

Meanwhile, six residents in Jose Abad Santos were still missing, as the search and rescue operation was ongoing.

Rescuers were also searching for one missing person in Malapatan, Sarangani, and four others in Calanogas, Lanao del Sur.

Prior to the recent recoveries, authorities recorded nine fatalities in Malapatan, seven in Calanogas, and two in Bukidnon.

According to authorities, at least 103, 218 families or 516, 090 individuals in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were affected by the extensive flooding, with Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur being the most-damaged areas. (Marry Ann Aquilla, UP Cebu Comm Intern)