'Helen' leaves Cordillera with 3 dead

By Redjie Melvic M. Cawis

Saturday 18th of August 2012

BAGUIO CITY Aug 18 (PIA) -- Tropical storm Helen left Cordillera Region with three casualties and several houses damaged.

In a report by the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the casualties were identified as small scale miners Jonafe Pandosen, 58, and Elmer Domines, 42, who were covered in mud after a landslide hit their shanty at Mount Emerald, Baligui, Purok 5, Brgy. Kias extension.

They were declared dead on arrival at the Baguio General Hospital on August 15.

Their companion identified as Marcos Baniguen, 62, was injured in the landslide. He was the one who called for help from barangay officials and police to rescue the two.

An immediate search and rescue operation was conducted by responders from the Philippine National Police, Baguio-Benguet Public Information and Civic Action Group, Philippine Military Academy-DRTG and the Baguio City Emergency Medical Services.

The third fatality was reported as Fernando Dingayan, 49, of Sitio Hilltop, Talifugo in Conner, Apayao. Dingayan was a victim of a fallen tree during the height of the storm

The CDRRMC also reported six fallen tree incidents, six flood-related incidents, and 18 landslide or erosion incidents, resulting into partial and total damage of at least six houses.

More than 800 residents or some 264 families were also evacuated in critical areas in the barangays surrounding City Camp Lagoon, Irisan village and San Carlos Heights in Baguio City; Puguis, Pico and Buyagan in La Trinidad; Twin Peaks in Tuba and in Bulalacao in Mankayan, Benguet.

The Department of Public Works and Highways reported several road closures during the typhoon. The Claveria – Calanasan, Tinglayan-Bontoc, Baguio-Bua-Itogon Road and Mt. province-Ilocos Sur Road via Tue were reported to be closed since Tuesday.

Kennon Road also was closed to traffic on Wednesday when three incidents of landslides and rock slides were reported.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Quick Response Team has monitored two totally-damaged houses and seven partially-damaged houses across the region.

DSWD-Cordillera has also augmented 300 family packs in Baguio while the total cost of assistance from the agency and the local government units are now at P88,810.

In Benguet, Governor Nestor Fongwan declared a cease order on all small scale mining activities during the heavy rains and the typhoon to avoid any disaster and prevent incidents such as being trapped inside their tunnel like the incident in Bokod, Benguet last week where a miner was rescued after seven days. (Redjie Cawis/PIA)