Storm death toll reaches 62: Four dead, one still missing in Cordillera

A total of 62 people have been confirmed killed from the onslaught of Typhoon "Gener" last week to date even as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported thousands of families have been displaced by floods from Metro Manila to Pangasinan.

               

Of this, P124.5 million accounted for damaged infrastructure, P532,000 constituted damaged private properties and P214.8 million accounted for agricultural damage.

               

The NDRRMC said the storm also left 35 persons injured and six others missing.

               

The damage in infrastructure from the typhoon was pegged at P339.8 million worth property.

               

“Gener” also damaged 8,443 houses nationwide and affected 867,799 persons or 193,682 families in 14 regions, including Metro Manila.

               

A total of 236,226 persons or 51,244 families were displaced due to the typhoon, which left the country last week even as the number got higher as rains continued until the weekend. 

               

The latest fatality was identified as Erwin Ramos, 34, who got drowned after the boat carrying him capsized in Laguna Lake.

               

In Southern Leyte, the bodies of two persons namely Orlando Calang, 47, and Jeffrick Calang, 23, were found in San Ricardo town.

               

The two went missing last Wednesday and died of drowning.

               

On the other hand, a certain Eduardo Agnes III, 32, of Palawan died after he was struck by lightning.

               

In the Cordillera, after battering the region with strong rains,  Gener left with  four  dead, four  injured and one missing.

               

The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported death toll rose to  four   when the body of  drowning victim 15-year-old  John Regueros,  of Natubleng, Buguias, Benguet,  was recovered.

               

He was earlier reported as missing.    

               

In Itogon, Benguet, two died due to landslides: Prisca Pacyaya, 64 and Clinton Idio, 15.

               

Reports said Pacyaya was clearing a water way near their residence in Nugget Mountain, Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet  early morning when suddenly  a landslide occurred  burying her.

               

Idio died when his motorbike was hit by a landslide near the 1st gate in Ucab, Itogon, Benguet.

               

In Mountain Province, the body of Efren Forawit  of Demang, Sadanga who was last seen alive crossing a river on July 31 was found in Pinukpuk, Kalinga the following day. 

               

The injured were identified as  Jennilyn Pallo, 38,  of Tocucan, Bontoc, Mt. Province and Veronica Bautista, 19 of Botiwtiw, Balili, La Trinidad, Benguet, who  were hurt in separate landslide incidents. Ezekiel Calubaguib and Rona Del Ramos  were injured in  motorcycle accident in a  landslide area in Hingyon, Ifugao are now recovering from their injuries.

               

Still missing as of press time was Jerry Turo, 18, from Natubleng, Buguias, Benguet. 

               

Office of Civil Defense chief Alex Uy said more than 8,000 individuals were affected by the typhoon including 1671 families in 60 barangays regionwide.

               

The CDRRMC also reported at least 700 people were evacuated to different evacuation centers in La Trinidad and Itogon in Benguet and in Baguio City due to danger of landslides  particularly in Sitio Little Kibungan in Puguis, Kesbeng and Ambiong in La Trinidad; Loacan in Itogon, Benguet  and Fairview in Baguio City. Pre-emptive evacuation was also done in the City Camp Lagoon Area.

               

Some 13 houses were destroyed by the typhoon while 93 houses were reported to have been damaged by the strong winds and heavy rains region wide.

               

Meantime, the Department of Public Works and Highways including private heavy equipment of contractors are conducting clearing operations in the different road networks region wide which were closed due to landslides.

               

Major roads to Baguio City are now open to traffic.

               

The Department of Agriculture is still conducting assessment on the damage of the typhoon to the agricultural sector particularly in the vegetable producing municipalities in Benguet. – With  reports from JennelynMondejar, Liam Anacleto, George Trillo and RedgieMelvicCawis