2 dead, 30 fishermen missing as typhoon hits Samar

Two people were killed and at least 30 fishermen reported missing as bad weather struck the central Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard reported yesterday.

The fishermen went missing Wednesday off Eastern Samar, one of several provinces lashed by strong winds and rain brought by tropical depression "Gener," Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Arman Balilo said.

In nearby Leyte province, a 70-year-old woman died of a heart attack and four other people were injured Wednesday after a tornado set off by Gener damaged hundreds of houses in Dulag town and left a dozen other people missing, officials said.

The tornado also tossed 30 fishing boats into the sea.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director Adriano Fuego said Buena Garcia died of a heart attack after a coconut tree fell on her.

The tornado, which lasted for 35 minutes on Wednesday morning, destroyed about 1,000 houses and left some 5,000 people homeless. It hit Barangays San Jose, San Rafael, Barbo, Victory, Fatima and Salvacion, all in Dulag town.

Fuego said Putoy Dillera died and Randy Duran was reported missing when the fishing boat, on which they worked as part of the crew, capsized in the vicinity of Guian and Manicani islands in eastern Samar. They were on their way home to the coastal town of San Jose in Tacloban City. Eleven of their companions survived the mishap.

Another fishing boat also capsized off Dulag, but 14 fishermen managed to swim to safety. Six of their companions, however, are still missing. While one fisherman remains unidentified, the OCD said the other missing fishermen are Virginio and Arcenio Dioco, Bobong Lagarde, and a certain Roy and Junior. All of them are residents of Barangay Bislig in Tanuan, Leyte.

"We are still assessing damage on the ground," said Edna Rola of the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

Relief workers transported rice and other foods and helped clear roads from toppled trees and debris in Dulag.

Dulag Mayor Manuel Sia Que has appealed to the OCD for the loan of a helicopter to conduct search and rescue operations for the missing fishermen. While the OCD has not yet granted his request, volunteers from the Bantay Dagat are helping in the search.

Sia Que said affected families are now housed in barangay centers and public schools in the vicinity.

The municipal disaster and coordinating council in Dulag immediately passed a resolution placing the entire town under a state of calamity. The tornado destroyed about P60 million worth of private property, infrastructure and fishing vessels.

Gener stranded 500 passengers at three terminals in Leyte province who were bound for Cebu City and some parts of Mindanao. — Miriam Garcia Desacada, Sandy Araneta, Cesar Ramirez, Felix delos Santos, AFP