MANILA, Philippines - Five people were reported killed, 10 missing, while 4,730 passengers stranded in several ports and 22 domestic flights canceled as storm “Feria" continued to pound the country Wednesday noon, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.
In its latest report, the NDCC said 10 people remain missing, including six fishermen in Eastern Samar and a four-year-old in Romblon province.
NDCC also said waist-deep floodwater hit Cuaming Island in Inabanga town in Bohol province.
Confirmed dead were fishermen Roberto Longaza, Ruben Rajas, Boyet Drias and Ryan Brogada, after a tornado hit their motorboat docked at Perez, Quezon at midnight Tuesday.
Still unidentified, a fifth fatality was reported to have drowned in Hilutungan in Bantayan Island in Cebu province.
Those missing are a four-year-old child in flooded Sta. Maria town in Romblon; fishermen Maximo Sanchez, 42, and Wilmo Cantilan of Cebu; Rey Pelaque, Rudy Bederos, Potenciano Amante, Boyboy Cabanatan, Olimpyo Darang and Totoy Oroyan and Justino Munda of Eastern Samar.
Injured were Ramil Escobar, 26; and Bocoy Pilapil, 27, of Padre Burgos town in Southern Leyte.
The two were earlier reported missing but were found alive on the Zurriago City’s shores at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Some 50 families or 251 people in Eastern Visayas were displaced, the report added.
On the other hand, the NDCC cited reports from the Coast Guard that 4,730 passengers, 47 trucks, 49 cars, 502 rolling cargoes, 126 vessels, 131 motor bancas and 18 vessels were stranded in 24 ports in southern Luzon, Bicol and the Visayas.
"Respective Coast Guard unit commanders in ports listed above are closely monitoring and rendering assistance to ensure the security and safety of stranded passengers," the NDCC said.
The NDCC also reported power interruptions in Sorsogon in Bicol and in Bauan town in Batangas. A power failure was also reported along Sta. Elena Road and Marikina City Hall.
Metropolis on course
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecast Feria to hit Metro Manila around 8 p.m. passing through the Calabarzon (Region 4-A) area in southern Luzon.
But the state weather forecaster said that if the storm changes its direction in the next few hours, it might hit the metropolis directly.
In anticipation of inclement weather, the Manila International Airport Authority has canceled 22 domestic flights, a GMANews’ Flash Report said.
According to the report, 10 Sea-Air flights from Manila to Caticlan in Panay Island and to Tablas Island in Romblon province have been canceled.
Four Cebu Pacific flights and two Philippine Airlines flights to Caticlan were also put on hold.
Rescue preparations
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa has ordered all Police Regional Directors in areas affected by Feria to activate their respective Disaster Response Plans and assist the Civil Defense and local government authorities in rescue, relief, evacuation and rehabilitation operations.
Verzosa has also alerted the Special Action Force, Maritime Group and other National Support Units with search and rescue capability to be ready for deployment to conduct rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations.
He has also directed the Metro Manila- National Capital Region Police Office Police units to ensure the availability of personnel and equipment for the operations.
Verzosa issued these instructions upon receipt of initial reports from field units about the growing extent of damages Feria has wrought in some provinces.
Source:
GMANews.TV
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