Storm 'Isang' leaves three dead, two missing

MANILA, Philippines — Three people died and two others were reported missing due to floods generated by storm “Isang" this week, officials said Saturday.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) identified the fatalities as Joemar Ligar, 13, of North Barangay 160 in Caloocan City, and Lomer Fernando, 32, of Barangay 12, Palpalicong, Batac, Ilocos Norte.

In its early morning report, the NDCC said Ligar drowned when the Tullahan River overflowed, Fernando died of electrocution.

Still missing are Arnold Julian, 9, who fell into a manhole in Silangan, San Mateo in Rizal province; and Joanthan Hormeneta, 22, who slipped while crossing a bridge in Imus, Cavite.

Not included in the NDCC report was a nine-month old baby who, radio reports said, drowned when flood inundated their home in La Paz town of Iloilo province in the central Philippines.

The baby was believed to have fallen off her bed while the whole family was sleeping Thursday night.

NDCC said floods sent a total of 94,856 individuals or 25,555 families from the Ilocos region, Southern Luzon and Metro Manila fleeing to higher grounds.

It said a landslide in Buntong Palay, San Mateo, Rizal destroyed five houses and damaged three more.

Several roads remained impassable to traffic, including those in northern Metro Manila, Mountain Province, Baguio, Cagayan, La Union, and Pangasinan, it said.

Isang spawned torrential rains on Thursday and Friday in the northern and central Philippines.

In its 4 a.m. typhoon update Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) said “Isang" was moving further away from the country.

Even as the eye of the storm was estimated 260 west-northwest of Basco, Batanes, Pagasa said Metro Manila and most of Luzon will continue experiencing rains until Sunday due to the southwest monsoon.

Residents living in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under storm warning signals are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides, the weather bureau said. - GMANews.TV

‘Isang’ nears Bicol, continues northwest path

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical depression "Isang" neared Catanduanes in Bicol Wednesday afternoon as it continued on its northeast path, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, Pagasa said "Isang" was estimated at 280 kms east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes as of 2 p.m.

"Isang" packed maximum sustained winds of 55 kph, and is forecast to move northwest at 19 kph.

"The whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with scattered to widespread rains over the Western sections of Southern Luzon and Western Visayas," Pagasa said.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest and south would prevail over Luzon and coming from the southwest over the rest of the country. Coastal waters throughout the archipelago would be moderate to rough.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said the surge of the southwest monsoon is expected to affect the seaboards of western sections of Central and Southern Luzon and Western Visayas.

"Fishing boats and other seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger seacraft are alerted against big waves," it said.

No storm signals were raised so far.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, Pagasa said "Isang" is expected to be 360 kms east-southeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Thursday morning,

By Friday morning it is expected to be 160 kms north of Aparri, Cagayan or 90 kms south-southeast of Basco, Batanes. By Saturday morning, it is expected to be 270 kms northwest of Basco, Batanes. - GMANews.TV

Feria roars across central RP; 5 dead, 10 missing

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