Over 50K people affected by typhoon
Two persons died while another one was reported missing after typhoon "Bising" (international name: Surigae) pummeled Southern Luzon and parts of Visayas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) disclosed Tuesday, April 20.
(Photo by Charism SAYAT / various sources / AFP / FILE PHOTO)
In a situational report, NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said the fatalities were recorded in Central Visayas (Region 7) and Eastern Visayas (Region 8). The identities of the deceased have yet to be released pending the completion of the validation by the NDRRMC National Operations Center.
However, local civil defense officials previously identified one of the fatalities as Alberto Wales, 79, of St. Bernard, Southern Leyte. He reportedly died after suffering from severe head injuries when he was hit by a felled coconut tree last April 17.
Meanwhile, an uprooted tree also fell on a house made of light materials in Catmon, Cebu on April 18. The incident resulted in the death of a 47-year old woman and injury of a 45-year old man.
Jalad said the missing person was reported in Eastern Visayas. Local authorities identified him as 40-year-old fisherman Louie Din, of San Jose, Northern Samar. He reportedly failed to return home after a fishing trip with three other companions.
Jalad said search and rescue operations are being conducted to locate the missing fishermen.
A total of 50,523 individuals were affected by the typhoon in 233 barangays in Bicol and Eastern Visayas.
Providing a breakdown, Jalad said 12,753 families or 49,829 individuals in Bicol and 160 families or 694 individuals in Eastern Visayas were affected by Bising.
There were 18,467 families or 68,490 persons who were also pre-emptively evacuated in Bicol and Eastern Visayas due to threats of flooding and landslides.
Monitored incidents
Jalad said 56 barangays were flooded in Can-avid, Eastern Samar and Catubig, Northern Samar as Bising continued to dump rains over Eastern Visayas.
A residential building also caught fire due to an unattended candle in Barangay Natimao-an, San Jose de Buan, Samar. No one was reported hurt.
An unmanned motorbanca with two passengers aboard capsized due to big waves in San Remegio, Cebu last April 18. The victims had to swim for 200 meters before they were able to reach the shore. Jalad noted that they survived with no injuries.
An elderly couple also escaped unscathed after a coconut tree fell on top of their house in Carmen, Cebu on April 17.