One dead, thousands displaced as Uwan, Tino batter Capiz

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Authorities have confirmed at least one fatality and widespread destruction in Capiz after Super Typhoon Uwan and Typhoon Tino brought severe flooding, infrastructure damage, and displacement across the province and Western Visayas.

The Office of Civil Defense Region 6 (OCD-6) said a 40-year-old resident of Barangay VII in Roxas City died on Nov. 9 after being electrocuted while walking near a water-soaked refrigerator inside his flooded home; he was pronounced dead at around 1:30 a.m.

Roxas City and surrounding areas were inundated when the Panay River and nearby ponds overflowed following hours of heavy rain.

OCD-6 also reported that a 41-year-old man from Roxas Poblacion Centro in Calinog, Iloilo, sustained injuries after falling from a roof while making repairs during the storm.

Capiz authorities, meanwhile, confirmed two additional deaths still under validation: an elderly woman who was found dead inside an evacuation center in Barangay Dulangan, Pilar, and a man identified as alias “Dodoy” from Barangay Badbaran, Dumarao, who drowned while crossing a river while reportedly intoxicated.

In total, 36,006 families or 109,220 individuals were affected by the typhoons in Western Visayas.

As of latest figures, 2,071 families evacuated to 122 designated shelters, while 936 others were assisted outside evacuation centers, with Capiz registering the most displaced families at 14,638, followed by Antique (12,182) and Aklan (3,643).

In Capiz alone, 7,728 families or 23,644 individuals were displaced, with Panay town recording the highest evacuee count at 2,815 families or 8,230 individuals, followed by Sigma with 2,571 families (7,862 individuals), Roxas City with 627 families (2,001 individuals), and Pilar with 903 families (2,723 individuals).

In coastal barangays of Roxas City such as Baybay, Punta Cogon, Barra, Libas, and Dumolog, storm surge triggered by Uwan flooded homes and forced emergency evacuations.

Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, along with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and volunteers, conducted search and rescue operations and advised residents to move to higher ground.

Similar coastal damage was reported in the towns of Panay, Pilar, and Ivisan, where light structures and fishing boats were destroyed.

Barangay Agojo in Panay reported 30 homes destroyed and 18 fishing boats wrecked, with 512 families or 1,466 individuals evacuated due to the storm surge.

Punong Barangay Rodnel Beluso said he immediately ordered evacuees moved to the Panay civic center when water levels began rising rapidly on Nov. 8.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said PHP 1.46 million in aid had been released to 239 affected families across the region, out of 19,185 requests for assistance.

Agricultural damage from Typhoon Tino across Western Visayas reached PHP 46.53 million, with Iloilo suffering the highest losses at PHP 21.9 million, followed by Guimaras (PHP 10 million), Antique (PHP 7 million), Aklan (PHP 4 million), and Capiz (PHP 3 million).

Infrastructure losses totaled PHP 56.22 million across Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Aklan, with Iloilo incurring PHP 48.6 million in damages.

Meanwhile, Roxas City’s Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and City Agriculture Office have launched an assessment of storm-related damage to the city’s agriculture and fisheries.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Gilbert Fernando said consolidated data will be used to determine the full extent of storm impact.

He added that many evacuees have returned home as water levels receded and weather conditions normalized, though classes in all levels—public and private—remained suspended until Nov. 11.

Fernando urged residents to check all electrical outlets and appliances before re-entering homes to prevent electrocution.

He praised responders and commended Mayor Dadivas for his presence and leadership throughout the disaster.

He also reminded the public to remain alert and follow weather updates from PAGASA.