Typhoon 'Nina' weakens on exit; death toll rises to 9

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon “Nina” moved out of the country yesterday, leaving nine dead and scores injured in flooding and landslides in Luzon and the Visayas.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said the fatalities drowned, were electrocuted or buried in landslides.

Of the number, three died in Antique, one each in Catbalogan in Samar, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and three in Baguio City.

In Benguet, rescuers were racing against time to free 13 miners trapped Monday night inside a gold field tunnel in Itogon town.

In Ilocos, the flooding that inundated 31 villages and one town in Bangar, La Union, displaced some 5,000 persons.

In Antique, three died after their wooden boat capsized in the swollen Caranganan River in Barangay Tigmamale, Valderrama last Sunday.

Those who died were identified as Leonila Alejo, her grandson Mac-Mac Alejo, and Clarita Viaje, all of Barangay Bugnay.

In Samar, fisherman Rodrigo Duena, 29, was also swept away in the Antiao River during heavy rains spawned by Nina. His body was recovered the following day.

Disaster relief officials said smaller landslides also damaged houses, roads, and several vehicles.

A sudden downpour yesterday afternoon brought gutter-deep floods to some parts of the metropolis, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said.

Nina exits RP

At 4 p.m. yesterday, Nina was spotted some 590 kilometers (kms) west-northwest of Laoag City or 210 kms south-southeast of Hong Kong.

It was forecast to move west-northwest at 22 kilometers per hour (kph) and is expected to be at 780 kms west-northwest of Laoag City or 190 kms south-southwest of Hong Kong this morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said western Luzon, including Metro Manila, and the Visayas would continue to experience monsoon rains until today.

Weather forecaster Chris Perez said storm warning signals in all areas affected by typhoon Nina had been lowered, but a low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility might enter the country within the next two to three days, threatening western Visayas.

The new weather disturbance would be given the local name “Ofel” once it enters the country.

Trapped miners

Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) said rescue operations were ongoing several hours after 13 miners were trapped at level 700 of the Benguet Mining Corp.’s “contracted mine tunnel” in Purok 7, Poblacion Itogon.

The miners were identified as Joel Bulga, Gilbert Mattin, Rudy Bolling, Marvin Hinayod, Jojo Hinayod, Robert Buay, Juan Hinayod, Rudy Hinayod, Vincent Hinayod, Joseph Anayasan, and Mario Anayasan, all workers of Weber Layaban, a private contractor of Benguet Corp.

Martin said that rain-soaked ground materials blocked the tunnel entry, making it hard for rescuers to insert breathing apparatus into the passageway.

Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan said water must be pumped from the flooded shaft before rescuers could enter and search for the miners.

“We don’t know if they are alive or dead. We are hoping for the best – that there are air pockets where they sought refuge,” George Baywong, an official of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau coordinating rescue efforts, said.

Authorities were rushing in high-capacity water pumps and studying engineering maps to figure out how to get to the miners, believed to be trapped about 400-700 feet (120-210 meters) below the ground, Baywong said.

Initial investigation said that water at the height of the typhoon rushed through a diversion tunnel where the miners were working.

Rescue workers from the Philex and Lepanto mines have been placed on standby for rescue operations.

In Baguio, three residents were dug up from sand, mud, stones, and debris as landslides hit the city.

Rescuers found 76-year-old Lolita Baroma and her son, Juan, buried in mud in Barangay Guisad Surong after a landslide covered their house at about 4 p.m. Monday afternoon.

Another landslide in Dominican Extension barangay also killed 38-year-old Lielany Fetcha. Her nine-year-old daughter was rescued and brought to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

The OCD also reported a series of landslides that buried several houses in Cordillera and left 17 persons injured.

Eight of the landslide victims came from La Trinidad, Benguet while nine were from Baguio City.

The Department of Public Works and Highways reported that some major road arteries in Baguio City were blocked by landslides, but most remained passable.

Ilocos floods, landslides

In Ilocos Norte, about 30 villages were submerged by floodwater, affecting some 5,067 persons or 1,098 families, the RDCC said.

Some 15 towns in Ilocos Norte also suffered power outage at the height of typhoon Nina Monday night and restoration work begun yesterday afternoon.

Ilocos police director Chief Superintendent Romeo Hilomen of the RDCC reported that fallen trees and branches hit wires or posts, causing the black out.

In Ilocos Sur, farmer Censio Cullapit of Barangay Poblacion in Quirino town went missing yesterday morning after strong currents swept him while he was crossing Abra River.

In Nagyubuyuban, San Fernando City, a large portion of a mountain slope loosened and slid down, blocking theSan Fernando-Bagulin Road.

Mayor Pablo Ortega said the landslide affected hundreds of commuters from upland villages and residents of Bagulin and San Gabriel towns.

The RDCC also reported that two gates each at the Ambuklao and Binga dams had been opened to lower the water level from one meter to two meters.

The San Roque Dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan absorbed the excess water from the two dams.

In La Union, Rodolfo Villanueva of Barangay Bucayab in Bauang was electrocuted at the height of the typhoon the other day.  – With Artemio Dumlao, Jun Elias, AP