‘RAMIL’ POUNDS W. VISAYAS: Storm leaves 3 dead, 32K families displaced

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By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Felipe V. Celino

A man who saved his wife, a vlogger who tried to rescue her sister-in-law, and a motorcyclist electrocuted by a fallen live wire were among the fatalities as Tropical Storm Ramil pounded Capiz with torrential rains and floods on Saturday, October 18.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) confirmed that Rizaldo Base Balgos, 44, of Barangay Dinginan, Roxas City, drowned after saving his wife when their vehicle stalled while crossing a flooded road.

He lost consciousness after helping his wife and was swept away by floodwaters; rescue teams are continuing search operations to retrieve his body.

Mary Mae Colas Urdelas, 22, a vlogger from Barangay Malocloc Sur in Ivisan town, also died after she attempted to help her sister-in-law cross a swollen brook in Sitio Bagaas.

She was swept away by strong currents and later found dead near a waterfall downstream, having sustained head injuries.

According to Barangay Captain Allan Delos Santos, the incident occurred around 5 p.m.; residents found her body about a kilometer from the scene three hours later.

A third fatality, a laborer identified only as Chris from Sitio Balogo, Barangay Dulangan in Pilar town, died after a live wire fell and struck him while he was driving his motorcycle home from the market.

He was declared dead on arrival at Bailan District Hospital.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said 32,481 families — or 115,917 individuals — across Western Visayas were affected by the storm, with Capiz bearing the brunt.

Capiz alone reported 19,494 affected families in 167 barangays, with widespread flooding in the towns of Dao, Dumalag, Maayon, Panay, Pilar, President Roxas, Roxas City, and Sigma.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that around 400 millimeters of rain fell Saturday afternoon — surpassing last year’s October record of 305 millimeters — compounded by high tide that worsened flooding.

Roxas City Hall opened its doors to evacuees Saturday night, along with the Circulo Convention Center grand hall, local church mission stations, and SM City Roxas.

A total of 5,069 families, or 15,616 individuals, have been evacuated to 96 evacuation centers across Capiz, according to the DSWD-Region 6.

The agency said it is coordinating with local government units for the distribution of family food packs and is currently hauling 10,000 additional packs from the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas suspended face-to-face classes at all levels in public and private schools from October 20 to 22, citing safety concerns and recovery efforts.

“We understand that the path to full recovery is long, but as one community, we will overcome this challenge together,” Dadivas said.

“Let us use this time to care for our families, check on our neighbors, and help our city heal.”

Class and work suspensions were also declared in the towns of Pontevedra, Panitan, Panay, and Sigma on October 20.

Given the extent of the damage and displacement, the PDRRMO is recommending that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan declare the entire province of Capiz under a state of calamity.

Meanwhile, the DSWD said 382 of the 1,113 families needing aid in Iloilo have received relief assistance amounting to PHP 274,026 as of Sunday morning.

In Iloilo province, 5,914 families from 70 barangays were affected, particularly in Balasan, Batad, Concepcion, Estancia, and San Dionisio.

In Aklan, 6,843 families were affected, while Antique reported 230 families displaced by floods.

The PDRRMO said 835 families, or 2,773 individuals, were evacuated in Capiz due to flooding.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard District Western Visayas reported 34 affected ports, with 162 stranded passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers, along with 61 rolling cargoes and four vessels.

Flooding rendered several national road sections impassable, particularly in Panitan, while only one lane was open to light vehicles in Barangay Mianay, Sigma, due to road slips.

The storm also damaged 79 houses in the region — 68 of them totally destroyed.