Friday, August 11, 2006

Two dead as huge waves batter Misamis Oriental coastal towns

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- (Aug 10 / MIKE BAÑOS) Two person are dead and over 900 families affected as huge waves pounded the coastal towns of Misamis Oriental last Tuesday, August 8 and Wednesday, August 9.

Misamis Oriental Provincial Disaster and Coordinating Council Executive Officer Teodoro A. Sabuga-a, Jr. identified the fatalities as Lilibeth Roa, 46, and her two-year old son Christian Swind Roa. They were hit by a falling coconut tree in Barangay Poblacion of Libertad town.

Sabuga-a said nine municipalities, four in the west coast (Laguindingan, Libertad, Naawan, Manticao) and five in the east coast (Tagoloan, Jasaan, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Salay) were adversely affected by the huge waves.

Initial estimates released by the PDCC revealed a total of 928 families affected in thirty barangays with 31 houses totally damaged and 51 partially. Four families were rendered homeless in Sitio Calacala, Brgy. Cogon Balingasag.

So far, damage to infrastructure appear to have been confined to a concrete farm-to-market road in Sitio Calacala, Brgy. Cogon, Balingasag which was totally damaged (28 meters)
The Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental is now undertaking relief and rehabilitation measures to the affected areas.

The huge waves struck at about the same time as similar giant waves swept away over a thousand houses in the island province of Tawi-Tawi Tuesday evening, leaving four persons missing and feared dead.

Earlier last week, flash floods also rampaged through four eastern towns of Misamis Oriental, killing an entire family of four and leaving over P30 million in damages to agriculture and infrastructure. The local office of the Pagasa said the floods may have been triggered by a cloudburst which breached a dike, sending floodwaters raging downstream.

MIKE BAÑOS501 V. F. Cabaraban St., Cabaraban Subdivision,Puntod, 9000 Cagayan de Oro City Philippines Primary Mobile 0906-889-8484 (Touch Mobile) Secondary Mobile 0921-469-6305 (Smart)IM mike_banos_2000@yahoo.comalternate email : mike_banos@walla.com