‘Basyang’ death toll rises to 12; rains twice that of 2011 ‘Sendong’
The death toll from Tropical Depression “Basyang” (international name: Penha) rose to 12 on Saturday after it lashed Mindanao with strong winds and heavy rains that were double the volume unleashed by a 2011 storm that also brought massive destruction to the region.
Heavy floods inundated 30 barangays in the Caraga region and affected more than 200,000 individuals, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Rainfall monitoring data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) indicated that the amount of rainfall dumped by Basyang into Iligan City was twice the amount of Tropical Storm “Sendong” (Washi) in December 2011.
A monitoring station in Tipanoy village measured the rain from 8 a.m. on Thursday to 8 a.m. on Friday at 383 millimeters (mm). Another station in Pugaan village measured it at 361 mm.
The known 24-hour rainfall intensity of Sendong was 180 mm.
More than 200K affected
What was different compared to 2011 was that only Tubod River, also called Iligan River, swelled this time. In 2011, Mandulog River also overflowed, bringing floodwaters to a larger part of Iligan City.
By early Saturday, Basyang has weakened into a low-pressure area (LPA) after making five landfalls across Mindanao and the Visayas, which disrupted its structure as it crossed land, Pagasa said in its weather bulletin issued at 5 a.m. on Saturday.
The LPA was last monitored about 105 kilometers southeast of Cuyo, Palawan, moving westward at around 25 kilometers per hour over the Sulu Sea.
The NDRRMC’s latest situational report showed that 64,360 families, or 232,550 individuals, from 517 barangays were affected.
Of these, 16,528 families or 53,983 people were staying inside 480 evacuation centers, while 4,489 families or 16,807 individuals were being assisted outside evacuation facilities.
Infrastructure damage includes three road sections and two bridges in Caraga, all reported to be impassable.
Power outages affected 14 cities and municipalities in Caraga. Electricity service remains interrupted in five areas, while nine have been restored, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.
The OCD also reported that 9,532 families, or 31,981 individuals, were preemptively evacuated across several regions, including 1,343 families (6,270 persons) in the Negros Island Region, 784 families (2,498 persons) in Central Visayas (Region 7), and 6,878 families (23,093 persons) in Caraga.
A total of 10,083 families were identified as requiring assistance, with relief support valued at P6.51 million, according to the OCD.
Disaster officials said validation and consolidation of reports were ongoing as weather conditions continue to affect several areas.
12 fatalities
OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said nine deaths were reported in Northern Mindanao, including four members of a family killed in a landslide in Cagayan de Oro City and four in Lanao del Norte.
In the Caraga region, three deaths were reported—two in Surigao del Sur and one in Agusan del Norte—all due to drowning. —WITH REPORTS FROM GABRYELLE DUMALAG, CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN, DIVINA SUSON AND RICHEL V. UMEL
