Kalinaw News: Philippine Army conducts Search, Rescue and Retrieval Operations in response to onslaught of Tropical Storm “AGATON” in Leyte and Southern Leyte Provinces

Posted to Kalinaw News (Apr 12, 2022): Philippine Army conducts Search, Rescue and Retrieval Operations in response to onslaught of Tropical Storm “AGATON” in Leyte and Southern Leyte Provinces



Camp Jorge Downes, Ormoc City, March 12, 2022 – Interminable rain showers prior and during the landfall of Tropical Storm “Agaton” on April 10, 2022 caused flooding to low-lying areas and landslides in several mountainous communities in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran. The Maharlika Highway from Mahaplag, Leyte going to Sogod, Southern Leyte was rendered unpassable due to a damaged bridge in Barangay Polahongon of said municipality. Also, the route from Abuyog, Leyte going to Silago, Southern Leyte was also not passable due to landslides. These incidents closed the shortest route to the Pacific towns and gateway to Mindanao and Panaon Island in Southern Leyte. With this, 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division HADR units were activated to conduct Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) specifically to conduct Search, Rescue and Retrieval (SRR) operations and conducted support to DRRMMOs preventive evacuations. Based on the reports of SRR units of 14th Infantry Battalion, with their close partnership with CDRMMO Baybay City, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), they were able to retrieve fourteen (14) cadavers in Brgy Mailhi, five (5) in Brgy Kantagnos, two (2) in Brgy Maypatag, one (1) in Brgy Candadam, one (1) in Brgy Pangasugan and one (1) in Brgy Bunga, with a total of 25 mortalities/casualties, 28 missing and 105 injured in Baybay City. On the other hand, the 546th Engineer Construction Battalion (546ECB) conducted road clearing operations in landslide areas of Brgy Cuatro de Agosto, Mahaplag; and main roads in Hilongos, Leyte, Liloan and Maasin City both of Southern Leyte, in order to speed up the SRR operations of the responders.

In the afternoon of same day, there was a reported missing person, Adrian Paulo B Tulin who was surfing in Brgy Pangasungan in Baybay City, Leyte. Moreover, late in the evening of same day, simultaneous flooding and landslides happened in barangays of Mailhi, Maypatag, Kan-ipa, Pangasugan, Bunga and Brgy Kantagnos of same city. These incidents closed the nearest diversion route to Pacific towns and Panaon Island.

The SRR Teams from 802nd Brigade and 14IB composed of CAFGUs and reservists from 8RCDG together with CDRRMO Baybay City, PNP, BFP, PCG and other local rescuers immediately conducted search and rescue operations and still in the area as of this report. Others are on road clearing operations with 546ECB and DPWH, and HADR operations in collaborations with CDRMMO Baybay City with other socio-civic groups and private sectors conducting relief distributions.

“We are saddened of this dreadful incident that caused unfortunate loss of lives and destruction of properties” Colonel Noel A Vestuir, Brigade Commander, 802nd Infantry Brigade, said during his area survey and inspection in Baybay City, yesterday, April 11, 2022.

“I commend the rescuers for their selfless devotion to their duties despite of the difficult and dangerous situation due to continuous rains and threat of landslide as they attempt to save more lives” Vestuir added, as he personally witnessed and supervised the ongoing rescue operation in Brgy Bobon, Baybay City.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and supervising the SSR and HADR operations in coordination with CDRRMC of Baybay City as we race against time to rescue those who are hit by landslide, save lives, give hope and ease the sufferings of our fellowmen in the area” Vestuir ended.

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