The water tanker owned by Kabankalan City skidded off a steep, rain-slicked curve in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, November 9, as it delivered relief to Typhoon Tino-hit communities.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) said the driver and crew onboard the tanker are all safe.
Driver Edwin Villar and crew members Hearthom Alipo-on and Ruel Dalisay reported that the road was slick and visibility dropped to zero.
“One crew member sustained minor injuries and received immediate first aid. The tanker remains fully functional, was successfully towed, and is now returning to Kabankalan City,” the office added.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that calamities have killed 52 people and left 56 missing in Central Negros Occidental as of Sunday, November 9.
The fatalities were highest in La Castellana, with 10 reported, followed by Moises Padilla with 9 and Hinigaran with 8. Bago City and Binalbagan each recorded 6 deaths, San Carlos City had 5, La Carlota City 4, Murcia 2, while Isabela and Himamaylan each reported one fatality.
Authorities in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, recorded 19 deaths and 7 missing.
Earlier, on November 6, City Mayor Benjie Miranda vlogged the send-off of Kabankalan personnel as they headed to distribute water to residents affected in Canlaon City.*
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.