A Vallacar Transit public bus was overturned by floodwaters with a strong current in Barangay Marina, Binalbagan town, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, November 5, a day after Typhoon Tino battered large parts of Negros Occidental.
The bus, which was traversing a flooded portion of the national highway, was swept and flipped on its side by waist-deep floodwaters.
The incident was captured on video by one of the passengers who had been filming the flood moments before the vehicle lost balance.
In a statement, Vallacar Transit said, “We are thankful that there were no casualties. A comprehensive internal investigation has already been launched to determine the facts surrounding this incident.”
The flash flood occurred as several areas in Binalbagan remained submerged following the typhoon’s heavy rainfall.
State of calamity mulled
Town administrator Pablito Gonzales told Brigada News FM Kabankalan that the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) convened an emergency meeting to assess the damage and discuss placing the town under a state of calamity.
He said it is “highly likely” that the town will declare a state of calamity after reports confirmed that all 16 barangays were affected by the typhoon.
As of posting time, over 5,000 residents from various barangays remain in evacuation centers across the town.
Meanwhile, data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed that 39,102 families, or 134,718 individuals, have been affected by Typhoon Tino in Negros Occidental.
The figures cover 375 barangays in 29 out of the 31 local government units in the province, excluding Bacolod City.
Among those displaced, 15,783 families—or 52,872 individuals—have sought shelter in evacuation centers.
In Bacolod City, the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) reported that 3,652 families, or 16,927 individuals, are still staying in evacuation centers as of 3 pm, Wednesday.
Provincial authorities continue to monitor the aftermath of the typhoon as several low-lying areas remain flooded and access roads in central and southern Negros are still being cleared.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.