AFP'S Eastern Mindanao Command on disaster response mode

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 5): AFP'S Eastern Mindanao Command on disaster response mode

A top military officer has placed all units in Eastern Mindanao in “disaster response mode,” even if typhoon Pablo has left Mindanao. Lt. General Jorge Segovia, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command said the soldiers expect an increase in search, rescue, relief and retrieval operations in the next hours. He said preparations are also being done for the collection of relief goods with the arrival of assistance and donations for the affected residents. “We will pursue search and rescue and relief operations as the storm drifts away,” Segovia said.

Military units under the 4th and 10th Infantry Divisions reported 12,000 families displaced and sought refuge in evacuation centers in Regions 10 and 13, respectively, while 2,000 families were accounted to have evacuated in Davao Region. Segovia said the number of evacuees is still subject to validation as transmission of field reports are also affected by intermittent communication signals. He said as of 2:00 pm Tuesday, his command received report of an estimated 20 civilian casualties due to flash flood in Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Compostela Valley Province. The report said one member of the 66th Infantry Battalion was reported to have died from the flashflood while an officer was seriously injured.

Segovia said the 10th ID already dispatched additional military trucks to transport rescue teams sent by Regional Risk Reduction and Management Council XI to the affected areas in ComVal Province. He said some areas are now experiencing power outages and communication interruptions because of fallen electrical posts and cut lines. Segovia said that Region 12 and Central Mindanao remain normal while these areas experience heavy rainfall.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2381354694227