Ineng death toll climbs to 20

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The death toll for Typhoon Ineng in the Cordillera Administrative Region climbed to 20 yesterday, as search and retrieval teams continued scouring areas in Mankayan, a mining town in Benguet, where 11 more miners remain missing.

Senior Superintendent Oliver Enmodias, director of the Mt. Province police, said rescue groups recovered yesterday the body of Ricardo Gadangan, one of three men swept away by the river on Aug. 22.

Enmodias said Gadangan was found under a pile of mud in Barangay Tocucan, Bontoc, where two others were earlier rescued alive.

In Tuao, Cagayan, the body of Neil Cayangaw, 29, was fished out of the Chico River in Barangay Barancuang, according to Senior Inspector Ponciano Taliping, town police chief.

Another victim, 17-year-old Francis Castro, has yet to be found.

Members of rescue and retrieval teams found the seventh of 18 miners who were buried in a landslide during the height of the typhoon in Barangay Taneg, Mankayan on Saturday.

Although Mankayan Mayor Materno Luspian identified the body as that of Nardo Mocnangan, the Office of Civil Defense in the Cordilleras opted to wait for personnel from the Department of Health before making a confirmation.

More than 500 members of  search and retrieval groups continue to search for signs of life near the landslide area.

Senior Superintendent Feliciano Gubatan, Ilocos Sur assistant police director, said the terrain, strong river currents and rains made the search and retrieval operations difficult.

Ineng brought P123 million damage to the national road systems in Northern Luzon, with Benguet being the hardest hit due to landslides.

In Negros Occidental, the office of the provincial agriculturist said Ineng damaged P4.6 million worth of crops. – With Raymund Catindig, Danny Dangcalan