The death toll inflicted by the heavy rains and strong winds of Supertyphoon Egay in the Cordillera rose to nine following the influx of reports from the different local governments on the fatalities and damages caused by the weather disturbance.
In barangay Gumatdang, Itogon, Derrick Balacdao, 56, married, died after he was buried by a landslide while rescuing his relatives whose house was earlier buried by a landslide. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).
In Nangamlay, Poblacion. Kibungan search and retrieval operations are still underway for the remaining body parts of Angelina Domingo Apopot, 41, married and a resident of the said place who was a victim of a landslide that transpired at the height of the weather disturbance. Her head was recovered by rescuers buried in the debris.
In Butao, Calanasan, Apayao, six persons have been reported missing after a huge landslide buried their houses during the heavy downpour caused by the supertyphoon. Search and rescue operations are now underway for the reported missing persons.
On the other hand, initial damages inflicted by the typhoon to the region’s agriculture sector is more than P48 million specifically for corn and high value crops.
Apayao and Kalinga suffered the heaviest damages to corn which are in their vegetative, flowering and harvestable stages while Mountain province and Benguet incurred significant damages to high value crops.
However, the Cordillera office of the agriculture department disclosed that the initial damages to the region’s agriculture are expected to increase as reports from the provinces are expected to come in following the ongoing validation and assessment being done on the ground.
Earlier, six people died, seven others were injured and two persons are still missing after the heavy rains and strong winds of Supertyphoon Egay wreaked havoc in the different parts of the Cordillera late Tuesday afternoon up to early Thursday morning.
In Abatan, Buguias, Benguet, four people died while five others were injured after a landslide buried their residence at around 5 am of Wednesday.
Based on a report from the Buguias Municipal Police Station, the fatalities were identified as Marjorie Tumpap, 30; Jasmin Tumpap Dulot, 12, Camille Tumpap Dulot, 5 and Hosana Tumpap, 2. The remains of the victims were found in the basement of the buried structure.
On the other hand, the injured individuals were named as Marlyn Dolorito Tumpap, 52; Julius Galang Tumpap, 61; Ezekiel Tumpap Torio, 8; Milkezedick Tumpap Torio 6 and Janielle Tumpap Dulot.
In the city, a 17-year-old student died while two others were injured after their residence was buried by a landslide at the height of the wrath of the typhoon at Bakakeng Central barangay.
In Bontoc, Mountain Province, a 38-year-old man died after his residence was also buried by a landslide at the height of the heavy rains and strong winds brought by the typhoon at sitio Pakkil, barangay Caluttit at around 4:20 pm Wednesday.
Bontoc mayor Jerome Chagsen Tudlong identified the said fatality as Manginte Paras-e Sagandoy, 38 and a native of Betwagan, Sadanga, Mountain province.
On the other hand, Mayor Tudlong also disclosed that the capital town of Mountain province has been isolated for a number of days now after major roads leading to the municipality had been closed due to a series of landslides caused by the weather disturbance.
Among the major national roads leading to the municipality that remain closed are the Baguio-Bontoc Road, Bontoc-Banaue road, Bontoc-Tabuk road and other provincial and municipal roads that impede the mobility of people and supplies.
However, he claimed that the public works department, the provincial and municipal governments are doing their best to open the said roads although they are having a difficulty because of the unpredictable weather condition that has impeded the speedy opening of the roads to allow the flow of goods and people in and out of the capital town.
In Pikar, Abra,, an individual died while another remains missing after they were allegedly washed away by the rampaging waters of the mighty Abra river Wednesday. Search and rescue operations are now going on with the assistance of the Philippine Navy divers.