‘Milenyo’ kills 17; Metro flooded

At least 17 people, some of them children, died and more than 400 others were evacuated as heavy rains and a waterspout triggered landslides and flash floods in northern and central Philippines, the National Disaster Coordinating Council reported yesterday.

Metro Manila went underwater anew yesterday, stranding thousands of commuters and forcing cancellation of classes in all levels as heavy rains and strong winds spawned by tropical depression "Milenyo" damaged houses and washed out roads.

Several government and private offices in the metropolis also allowed their employees to go home early to evade worsening traffic situations.

Eight people were reportedly buried alive in a landslide precipitated by the waterspout that dumped seawater on land in Negros Oriental, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) at Camp Aguinaldo reported.

OCD spokeswoman Mina Marasigan said four other people were still missing and two were injured in the incident that occurred late Monday.

A waterspout was described as a whirling funnel-shaped column of air full of spray, usually occurring in tropical areas.

Manila-based ANC television reported that six people died from electrocution and drowning in Barangay Bilibiran-Riverside in Binangonan town in Rizal where water levels reached as high as three meters in some towns.

Dr. Noel Avenido of the Meek Hospital in the town identified the six fatalities as Mary Jane Saleturno, 2; Ligaya Inopia, 32; Ramon Navarro, 59; Marilyn Pacheco, 32; her daughter Cristina, two months old; and mother Adelina Pacheco, 50.

Avenido said Saleturno, Inopia and Navarro were electrocuted as they were fleeing their homes due to rising floodwaters when electric lines snapped.

The Pachecos reportedly drowned in floodwaters.

Authorities said four other minor landslides in the central Philippines washed out some roads.

The NDCC identified some of the fatalities in Negros Oriental as Tarsicia Lastimoso, Rene Jimenez, Carlito Aga, Nelson Aga, Michael Aga, Robert Aga and Jimboy Gonzales, all of Barangay Nagbalaye in Catalina town.

Their houses were reportedly swept away by strong currents late yesterday morning. Their bodies were recovered by government rescuers and volunteers hours later.

Still missing were Leslie Lastimoso, Ryan Jimenez, Donna Aga and Jocelyn Aga.

Radio reports indicated that 11 died in Catalina town alone.

More than 2,000 people from Binangonan and some parts of Laguna were evacuated to higher ground, the NDCC said.

Witnesses said houses and electric posts in Barangay Bilibiran collapsed amid rising floodwaters shortly before noon, with most of the local residents getting caught by surprise.

Saleturno and Inopia were allegedly swept away by the currents. Navarro tried to save the two drowning women when he got hold of a fallen live wire, and all three were electrocuted.

In Teresa town, also in Rizal, six people were injured when a landslide destroyed their homes.

Sketchy reports identified the victims as Ricardo Tiongco, his wife, a four-year-old son and a sister-in-law, and neighbors Gilbert Javier and Anthony Mendoza.

They were taken to the Antipolo Community Hospital for treatment of cuts and bruises.

There were no reports of casualties in Metro Manila, but authorities said flash floods rendered numerous roads impassable to vehicles especially cars, creating gridlocks and monstrous traffic snarls.

Even the Tumana Bridge in Barangay Concepcion in Marikina City went underwater, leaving vehicular traffic in the area at a standstill.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said over 4,200 passengers were stranded in various ports in Sorsogon and Albay provinces.

Some 2,400 passengers bound for Allen in Samar were held up in Matnog port in Sorsogon, along with 67 buses, 39 trucks and 57 private vehicles.

The Philippine Coast Guard also suspended ferry services between Batangas City and Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro.

New storm spotted as Milenyo exits RP

As Milenyo was tracked by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to be moving out of the country, another low pressure area was spotted about 280 kilometers west of Manila.

After crossing Lamon Bay in Quezon, Milenyo was tracked heading towards Central Luzon.

At 4 p.m. yesterday, the tropical depression was estimated to be over Infanta, Quezon with maximum sustained center winds of 55 kilometers per hour. It was forecast to move west-northwest at 15 kph.

PAGASA said "Milenyo" was expected to traverse Central Luzon and will be over the South China Sea, or 150 kilometers west-northwest of Iba, Zambales this afternoon, or at 500 kilometers north-northwest of Iba by tomorrow afternoon.

Public storm signal No. 1 is still hoisted over the provinces of La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Aurora, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite and Camarines Norte, as well as Metro Manila and Lubang island. – With Marvyn Sy, Matthew Estabillo, Felix de los Santos, Mike Frialde, Jerry Botial, Sheila Crisostomo, Arnell Ozaeta, Celso Amo