12 feared dead as 'Tino' whips Metro Cebu

Local

WHAT residents thought would be another night of heavy rain turned into a tragedy when flash floods tore through Barangay Bacayan, Cebu City early Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The sudden rush of water swept away homes and left at least 12 people feared dead in the wake of Typhoon Tino.

Mayor Nestor Archival, in a live update on his official Facebook page, confirmed that the fatalities included members of two families who were washed away by floodwaters. Only one father reportedly survived the disaster.

“Twelve casualties have been reported so far. Duha ka pamilya, ang papa na lang ang nahabilin. Wala pa ma-recover ang uban kay naanod sa baha,” Archival said.

Search and retrieval teams continue to scour the area for missing residents as debris and collapsed homes still block access to the community. The victims’ remains have yet to be found.

Archival said the flooding struck with little warning. The river that cuts across Bacayan and Villa del Rio suddenly swelled around 4:30 a.m., rising fast enough to reach the second floors of several homes.

“For so many years, wala gyud misaka ang baha mao nga kampante sila. This time, they realized too late how fast the water could rise,” he said.

About 50 to 60 houses were washed away, with debris found as far as Barangay Talamban. In neighboring Pit-os, a man in his 50s who was swept away by the current was later found lifeless downstream in Talamban.

Archival added that around 95 percent of residents living along riverbanks in the city’s northern mountain barangays have lost their homes. Many ignored earlier advisories to move to higher ground.

“Giingnan na nato nga mobalhin sila, pero wa gyud sila ni-transfer. They didn’t realize nga ingana ka-grabe ang baha,” he said.

Responders are facing challenges reaching affected sitios due to damaged roads and collapsed bridges. The city government is now prioritizing clearing routes to ensure food and relief can reach mountain communities.

“Number one, kinahanglan maagian ang tanang dalan sa bukid. Number two, kinahanglan maagian ang Bacayan kay kung magdala tag pagkaon ug tubig, dili gyud makaagi,” Archival said.

With communication lines still down in many upland barangays, the city has been relying on radio contact to coordinate rescue and supply missions.

So far, no casualties from landslides have been reported, but the mayor said debris continues to litter mountain roads. He has requested urgent delivery of food and drinking water to stranded residents.

Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) made landfall in Borbon town, northern Cebu, before dawn on Tuesday, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 205 kph. The typhoon later crossed the Iloilo Strait as it weakened into a severe tropical storm.

Heavy rainfall triggered the overflow of major rivers across Metro Cebu, inundating large parts of Cebu City, Talisay, Mandaue, Consolacion, and Liloan. Power and telecommunications remain unstable in several areas.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Cindi King-Chan said there were no reported casualties from the storm. Only minor structural damage, such as toppled trees and power lines, was recorded.

King-Chan said 80 percent of the city’s operations have been restored, with repair efforts on utilities still ongoing.

Meanwhile, PAGASA reported the formation of a new tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), about 1,985 kilometers east of Northeastern Mindanao. Once inside PAR, the system will be named Uwan.

The weather bureau clarified that it is not yet affecting any part of the country, though continuous monitoring is underway.(TGP)