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GENERAL SANTOS CITY: Four were killed while four
others were reported missing as strong winds and rushing flashfloods
brought by typhoon “Frank” hit Sarangani and other neighboring
provinces in Central Mindanao.
Reports said 11-year-old Mary
Jane Panatoc and Jessamor Adom, nine were killed after a fallen
coconut tree in Barangay Lomuyon in Kiamba town hit them.
Teresita Tasig was also reported
missing after she was carried by strong floodwaters in nearby Maitum
town.
Sarangani provincial information
officer Serafin Ramos Jr. said some 7, 000 residents had been
displaced while damage to infrastructure and crops was estimated to
P34 million as flashfloods caused by heavy rains submerged several
low lying villages in the coastal towns of Alabel, Maitum, Maasim
and Kiamba.
Ramos said the flashfloods caused
by the overflowing of rivers swept away several houses and destroyed
major bridges connecting the Sarangani-General Santos City national
highway. The road connecting Cotabato and General Santos City was
also reported impassable due to heavy floods as of Saturday
afternoon.
Hermelo Latoja, the provincial
welfare officer said disaster officials had immediately conducted
relief operations in the affected areas by distributing medicines,
canned goods and rice to flood vicitms.
“The relief operation will last
for only five to six days but we are expecting more supplies to
come,” Latoja said.
Meanwhile two people were
reported killed in a landslide in Barangay Rosary Heights in
Cotabato City.
Government authorities said three
people were reportedly drowned in Barangay Miral in Alamada town
while a bridge broke down in Banisilan town in Cotabato.
Sam Mundas, city disaster action
officer, said several villages were submerged after the Rio Grande
de Mindanao River overflowed leaving most of the roads to be closed.
In Maguindanao, the national
highway in Guindulongan town that connects Cotabato City, Sultan
Kudarat and Isulan had been closed to motorists after waist-deep
floodwaters hit the area.
-- ISAGANI P. PALMA
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