At least two people were reported dead while 35 houses were destroyed as heavy rains continued to flood parts of Oriental Negros for almost a week now.

Police reports reaching Camp Fernandez in Agan-an, Sibulan town on Thursday, said the bodies of a woman and a teenaged boy were recovered in Pamplona and in Mabinay towns.

Sofronio Montecino, 17, of Barangay Manlingay, Mabinay was believed to have been swept by strong currents while he was fishing along the Ilog River in the barangay on Wednesday afternoon. Farmers and policemen in the town recovered his body at around 4 p.m. Thursday, a police report said.

The woman, identified as Leonora Lopez, 29, of Sitio Tambaon in Barangay Banawe, Pamplona, was also believed to have drowned after she was carried away by flood at the Tulong River in the same village around 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Banawe Barangay Captain Agatona Sillo and Barangay Councilor Eldbrando Barino reported to the police that relatives retrieved Lopez's body further down the river about 17 hours later.

Rendered homeless were 35 families in two barangays in Siaton, four residential houses were totally washed out, while 26 others were partially damaged in Poblacion 3, and 6 others in barangay San Jose in the town.

Gov. George Arnaiz sent his emissary for calamities, Board Member Arturo Umbac Jr., with provincial social welfare officer Alice Lagarde to assess the situation and distributed rice, sardines and noodles for the families being evacuated at the Siaton gymnasium.

Board Members Henry Pryde Teves and Ernesto Tijing also visited the affected residents at the evacuation center with Mayor Vincent Arbolado.

The victims said they have no other alternative but to put up their shanties along the beach because fishing is their means of living.

Severina Baydid said they are willing to be transferred to higher grounds and want the government to help them in constructing their new homes.

Residential houses in the barangay were damaged when big waves hit the shorelines.

The victims included Precy Quintao, Gregorio Quintao, Laarni Borda, Ernesto Mahilum, Angelita Sabate and Richard Sabate.

Village chief Lucio Quinicot said every year, they expect calamities especially when the Canaway River overflows, compounded by big waves.

The victims said they are used to similar situations where flood waters convert their barangay into a swimming pool.

Siaton municipal officials repeatedly advised the residents to move to safe grounds but they would not, until their homes are battered by big waves, as what had happened some years ago.

The victims in Poblacion 3 were identified as Santiago Gadiana, Cristita Kabristante, Efren Abril, Nelson Linogon, Elizabeth Librando, Teodosia Kabristante, Crispiniana Anque, Annet Gonzales, Eliseo Baydid, Porferia Silva, Clarita Abril, Trinidad Abril, Lolita Coratibo, Perlito Ligani, Febby Manzo, Jocelyn Benlot, Angel Go, Gilbert Bayawa and Sheryl Elogon.*JG

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