Unusual flood tragedy in Camiguin province was investigated by the Special Tropical Cyclone Reconnaissance, Information and Data Evaluation (STRIDE) team after the passage of Tropical Storm Lingling (0123) in order to derive new inputs to improving disaster management strategy.

Camiguin province which lies at 9.0 N latitude, 125.0 E longitude, belong to the Mindanao group of island. Because of its geographical setting, which is close to the equator, residents in the area can only experience at least one cyclone in 12 years. Morphologic profile of Camiguin show that the province is a volcanic island with nested volcanic structures (caldera, cones, etc.). Drainage is deeply incised in the upper-midslope to upper lower slopes of the Camiguin volcanic mountain range etched deeply in various volcanic rocks (andesite, basalt) either in volcanic flows or ancient lahar deposites. Towards the lower slopes and the lowland, drainage is shallow and usually infilled with large boulders, gravel and course sand.

METEOROLOGICAL ASPECT

In November 5, 2001, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned residents in the area of the possible danger due to tropical storm Lingling (0123)passage. Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 (maximum sustained wind of not more than 60 KPH)was raised over the area. Those living in low lying and along the coastal areas were also warned of possible flood. In the morning of November 5, light to moderate rain started to pour and at 1000 UTC of November 6 it intesified to heavy downpour that lasted for 12 hours. According to the residents in the area, the weather was just a normal occurrences.

THE TRAGEDY

Around 1800 (November 6) big volumes of water accompanied with big big boulders, trunks of trees, and sand flowed down the mountain slope covering residential area in barangay Hubangon in the town of Mahinog and the adjacent area. Soundly sleeping, some residents were burried alive by big rocks and sand. Totally damaged houses numbered 147 while the partially damaged were 190. Registered death in Mahinog alone was 132 while the affected families in the same town was 1,608. Total combined damage to infrastructure and agriculture amounted to more than 3.8M dollars. After the tragedy, the people were in shock and some were in horrible trauma.

FINDINGS

Investigation showed that the flood event was a combined geologic and meteorologic disaster. The continuous moderate to heavy rain have loosened the soil that triggered an avalanche opening a water reservoir in the mountain. As rocks and water cascaded downslope multiple landslide occurred that made the disaster severely disastrous.