Residents affected by heavy rains and flooding in Negros Occidental hit 100,335 with the number likely to increase with emergency evacuations in at least six local government units in the south ongoing Tuesday night, Sept. 17
Evacuations were ongoing in flood-hit areas of Binalbagan, Kabankalan, Ilog, Candoni, Sipalay and Hinoba-an Tuesday night, Irene Bel Ploteña Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) head, said Tuesday.
Two southern Negros residents also drowned.
The body of Macario Villasan, 67, from Brgy Bulwangan, Hinoba-an, was found on Monday, Mayor Daph Reliquias said. Villasan, who allegedly was drunk, was reported missing on Saturday.
The police said Villasan might have crossed a river to get home causing him to drown due to strong current.
The body of Gilbert Vicencio, 14, who drowned in Campomanes Bay in Sipalay City on Sunday was found Tuesday night.
His body was found near the Campomanes Bay port by people onboard a pumpboat, Ensign James Carbajosa, acting commander of the Philippine Coast Guard-Southern Negros Occidental Station, said.
Heavy rains and flooding since Friday have affected 100,335 residents in 23 towns and cities of Negros Occidental, Ploteña said.
There were 3,466 families with 11,728 members still in evacuation centers in various parts of Negros Occidental on Tuesday, she said.
There were also 609 families with 1,963 members outside evacuation centers, she added.
Nine houses were destroyed and 121 were damaged.
Damage to crops was P29,696, 771, fisheries – 1,063,249 and livestock P899,855 for a total of 31.6 million, Ploteña said.*