CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Dec. 18 (PIA) -– The death toll due to flooding in the city of Cagayan de Oro now rose to 252.
This was according to the official report the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) region 10 office at 5:00 a.m today.
Twenty three (23) persons were already identified while identities of the other 229 died are yet to be established. The bodies are now at the different funeral homes in the city.
RDRRMC said all the immediate kin of the reported fatalities are currently being attended by the concerned local government unit and disaster council in the city.
Office of Civil Defense(OCD)Regional Director Ana Cañeda said 22 barangays in the city were affected with flashfloods leaving many residents trapped on the rooftop and walls of their homes, power and water outrages.
While some residents took refuge on trees, others had to climb nearby storey buildings to avoid being swept away by the flood waters. Buildings and household items such as television sets and fridges were destroyed and swept away by the flood waters.
The heavy downpour, that started about 4:00 p.m. Friday and lasted until about 3:00 a.m. Saturday, brought almost every activity in the capital city to a halt.
Some businesses had to close down because the flood waters had taken over their premises and also of the power and water outages.
Walls were broken down while wooden structures and even some buildings, particularly those on water courses, were destroyed by the floods.
Military personnel and other rescue teams used boats to rescue some of the trapped residents, especially in areas where flooding was very extensive.
Cañeda, on the other hand, said due to communication problems as a result of power outages, cities of Valencia, Iligan and Ozamiz are yet to submit their reports and damages are still to be determined.
RDRRMC is led by Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Northern Mindanao, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-10 and other line agencies of the government including military and police commanders.
The OCD, RDRRMC, and all concerned branches of the government, including the private sectors are now joining hands and efforts in giving relief assistance to the flood victims.
Sendong, the 19th storm to hit the Philippines this year, has made another landfall in the vicinity of Puerto Princesa city and is now heading towards West Philippine Sea. (PIA-10)
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