Tropical Storm Sendong

Tropical Storm Sendong (international name: Washi) ravaged Mindanao, slamming it with devastating rains and unleashing flash floods and landslides that have left a horrifying trail of destruction. As of 12PM, the death toll has reached 720 (Cagayan De Oro 346, Iligan City 279, Bukidnon 47, Negros Oriental 37, Lanao del Norte 9, Compostela Valley 5, Zamboanga del Norte 3, Surigao del Sur 1). Most of the dead were asleep in the middle of the night on Friday when raging floodwaters pounded their homes from rivers and cascaded
from mountain slopes following 12 straight hours of heavy rains in Mindanao. Drowning has been identified as the main cause of death. Sendong affected 21 municipalities, 78 barangays and 13,924 families (63,779 persons), with 245 injured and 807 reported missing. 3,422 houses were totally or partially damaged and there are still 38,332 persons housed in evacuation centers to date.
There are currently 7,431 persons in 4 evacuation centers in Iligan City, which was consumed by flashfloods last night after the heavy downpour of rains. Cagayan De Oro, which has now been placed undera state of calamity, experienced 180 mm of rainfall in less than 24 hours, which has led to massivefloods in 23 of its 80 barangays, leaving about 20,000 residents in evacuation centers. Prior to theonslaught of Sendong in Zamboanga del Norte, about 143 persons had already evacuated their houseswhich were destructed by flash floods that swept the municipality of Polanco as well as Dipolog andDapitan cities. Dapitan River had overflown early yesterday morning which flooded several barangaysin Dapitan.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) maintains strict 24-hour monitoring of all situations in Mindanao, whilenearly 700 PRC staff and volunteers deployed in the field are conducting detailed assessments. Searchand rescue teams have been mobilized and hot meals have been prepared and distributed in evacuationcenters. Welfare desks, psychosocial support and first aid stations have been situated in the evacuationcenters for affected families. PRC has provided support by giving food packs, sleeping materials,hygiene kits, dinnerware, water containers, body bags and slippers.
Sendong is the 19th tropical cyclone to lash the Philippines this year. As we wage this battle againstdisasters, we are appealing for immediate cash assistance to continue providing relief and recoveryefforts for all affected communities. We are counting on your support to be able to provide food, non-fooditems (including kitchen ware, dinner sets, cleaning materials, latrines, medicine, livelihood programs andshelter) and our services to the most vulnerable Filipinos in the hardest hit cities and provinces.
We appreciate your generosity and continued support to the Philippine Red Cross. Thank you!

Cagayan de Oro flood 2011

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)