• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Thirty-four persons remain missing one year after Typhoon Tino battered Negros Occidental and nearby areas, according to the Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR).
Information Officer Mylene Gonzaga of OCD-NIR said the unresolved cases were recorded in several local government units across Negros Island, even as communities continue recovery efforts from one of the region’s most devastating disasters.
Among the affected areas, La Castellana posted the highest number of missing persons at 13, followed by Moises Padilla with nine. La Carlota City and Bago City recorded three missing persons each, while Isabela, San Carlos City, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental reported two each.
Data from OCD-NIR also showed that the typhoon claimed 106 lives across Negros Occidental and neighboring areas.
La Castellana and Moises Padilla, both located in the province’s 5th District, registered 18 fatalities each. Hinigaran recorded 12 deaths, Bago City eight, La Carlota City seven, Isabela and Binalbagan six each, and San Carlos City five.
Additional fatalities were reported in Himamaylan City and Kabankalan City with one each. In Negros Oriental, Canlaon City recorded 22 deaths, while Bais City, Vallehermoso, and La Libertad reported one fatality each.
To mark the first anniversary of the tragedy, a Holy Mass was held Nov. 4 at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol to honor those who lost their lives and recognize the resilience of communities affected by the calamity.
Department heads, provincial government employees, and other officials participated in the prayer gathering, offering prayers for the victims and support for families still grappling with the loss of loved ones.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the commemoration served as an opportunity to remember those who perished and reflect on the lessons learned from the disaster.
The gathering also expressed solidarity with families who continue searching for missing relatives and with communities still rebuilding from the destruction left by the typhoon.
Typhoon Tino brought torrential rains and widespread flooding to Negros Occidental, with the province’s 5th District among the hardest-hit areas.
La Castellana and Moises Padilla suffered extensive damage from severe flooding and debris-laden flows that descended from the slopes of Kanlaon Volcano. The disaster destroyed homes, infrastructure, farms, and sources of livelihood, forcing thousands of residents to seek safer ground.
A year later, recovery efforts continue as displaced families work to rebuild their lives while authorities pursue efforts to locate those who remain unaccounted for. | GPB
