EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS –
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
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State of calamity declared as severe floods landslides destroy homes, drown people in Mindanao, Philippines
More than 200,000 people have abandoned their homes on the Island of Mindanao, as widespread flooding and landslides destroy or damage thousands of homes, killing dozens of people in the Philippines second largest and southernmost island.
Major rivers have overflowed, forcing mass evacuations and causing many people to drown in areas still recovering from Typhoon BOPHA (locally known as Typhoon Pablo), said the local civil defense operations officer.
Typhoon Pablo killed more than 1,900 people and caused widespread destruction when it struck the region in December 2012.
“Many of the victims had not managed to rebuild and were staying in temporary shelters when they were hit by fresh flooding,” he said.
States of Calamity
States of Calamity have been declared in the towns of Sta. Josefa, Sibagat and Butuan City and at least four towns in Davao Oriental—Panabo City, and the towns of Carmen, Tagum City and Asuncion—due to severe flooding, said a report.
Floods and Landslides Destroy Infrastructure
Severe flooding and large landslides triggered by torrential rains have destroyed much of the infrastructure in the region, including six bridges that collapsed in Davao Oriental, said a report.
Many of the worst affected areas are left isolated due to collapsed bridges and impassable roads.
More Heavy Rain Forecast
Additional heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast for the region as a low pressure low pressure system hovers over Mindanao. Authorities have warned of additional flash floods and landslides throughout Mindanao, Eastern and Central Visayas and the Bicol region.
Residents of Davao, Compostela Valley, Surigao, Bukidnon, Misamis, Dinagat, Leyte, Samar, Bohol, Cebu, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes and Camarines of additional flash floods and landslides, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Typhoon BOPHA
Typhoon BOPHA (locally known as Pablo) made landfall in Mindanao on 4 December 2012, leaving a trail of destruction.
- BOPHA affected more than 6.2 million people, leaving about 1 million homeless—some 835,934 displaced people outside evacuation centers and 7,524 displaced others inside evacuation centers, according to the latest update by Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), dated Jan 7, 2013.
- “An estimated 1,000,000 people are in need of food assistance. Of these, the Government has requested Food Security Cluster support for 400,000 critically affected people, taking into account also the support provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).” UN-OCHA reporetd.
- The typhoon killed at least 1,067 people, with 834 others reported as missing (presumed dead).
- The deadly typhoon destroyed or damaged 216,817 homes, and much of the region’s infrastructure.
- Much of the damage occurred in the two provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.
Typhoon BOPHA Links
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