5 dead, 7 missing as 'Feria' batters Luzon, Visayas

MANILA, Philippines – The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported yesterday that five persons were killed and seven were reported missing after tropical storm “Feria” slammed Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the storm has maintained its strength as it continued to move out of the country towards the South China Sea.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., who is also NDCC chairman, said five persons were confirmed dead, four of them crew members of a motorboat that was hit by a tornado as it took shelter at a local port in Perez, Quezon around midnight, while the other person drowned in Bantayan, Cebu.

Teodoro identified the fatalities in Perez, Quezon, as boat captain Roberto Longaza, Ruben Rajas, Boyet Drias and Ryan Brogada.

The four were on board their motorboat that was hit by a tornado while docked at Sitio Pinagbayanan, Barangay Sanguitin.

The fifth fatality drowned during a flash flood at Hilutungan in Bantayan.

The NDCC said most of the missing were fishermen who went out in the rough waters off Eastern and Central Visayas.

Among those reported missing were Rey Pelaque, Rudy Boderos, Potenciano Amante, Boyboy Cabatan, Olimpio Darang, all of Eastern Samar and Totoy Oroyan of Southern Leyte.

The NDCC also reported that 20 houses were destroyed after a tornado hit Canavid, Eastern Samar at the height of the storm.

Three more houses in Barangay Concepcion Sur, Sta. Maria, Romblon were destroyed as the tropical storm made landfall in the island province yesterday.

The weather bureau said that as of 11 a.m. yesterday, storm warning signal no. 2 was raised over Marinduque, Romblon, Northern Quezon, Mindoro provinces, Lubang Island, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Rizal, Tarlac, and Metro Manila.

Signal no. 1 was raised over the Calamian Group, Cuyo Island, Masbate, Ticao Island, Burias Island, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines provinces, Southern Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Aklan, Northern Antique.

Storm warning signals in other areas were lowered yesterday morning.

Classes in the elementary and high school levels were suspended in the areas that were covered by storm warning signal no. 2.

Pagasa administrator Prisco Nilo said Feria made landfall in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro yesterday afternoon, bringing strong winds and heavy rains.

He said the storm passed near Metro Manila between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. last night.

The storm is expected to be at 130 kms west of Dagupan City this afternoon, at 310 kms west of Basco, Batanes tomorrow afternoon, and at 80 kms west of Taiwan on Saturday afternoon.

Nilo said the weather would improve gradually this afternoon.

Feria is the sixth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first this month.

The storm is packing winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. Feria is predicted to move northwest at 17 kph.

It is expected to be at 70 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales this morning, at 140 kms northwest of Laoag City tomorrow morning and at 210 kms northwest of Basco, Batanes by Saturday morning.

Pagasa continued to warn residents living in low-lying, mountainous, and coastal areas under storm warning signals no. 2 and 1 against possible flashfloods, landslides and storm surges.

Fishermen missing

Two fishermen were reported missing while some 3,067 passengers were stranded in 12 ports in Bicol, the office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.

Raffy Bernardo, OCD regional director, said that Tito Gaspe, 52, and a certain Joshua, both fishermen from Barangay Bariis in Matnog, Sorsogon were reported missing.

The NDCC said two other fishermen who were earlier reported missing while fishing off Barangay Sofia in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, were found alive at the coastal area of Barangay Malibago in Surigao City yesterday.

Bernardo also said that some 3,067 passengers were stranded in Camaligan (36), Sabang (20), Pasacao (12), Pio Duran (12), Pilar (200), Bulan (86), Matnog (2,283), Bapor (225), Milagros (20) and Placer (8), including 55 trucks, 52 cars, 44 passengers buses, 13 vessels and 10 motor boats.

Alejandro said that most of the stranded passengers were bound for the Visayas and Mindanao.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has ordered Albay Public Safety and Management Office (APSEMO) head Cedric Daep to activate the various city and municipal disaster coordinating councils to prepare for evacuation, especially in low-lying and landslide-prone areas to insure zero casualty as he ordered classes at the elementary and high school levels suspended throughout the province.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued 14 passengers of a motorized boat that reportedly capsized near Mactan Island in Cebu.

PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said that all 14 passengers and crew of M/B Jon Jon survived the incident and were brought to Barangay Alegria, Cordova, Mactan Island where they were given medical assistance.

Initial information reaching the PCG headquarters showed that the Jon-Jon left Tubigon, Bohol at around 3 p.m. of June 23, Tuesday. They were on their way to Hilatongan, Cebu when their boat capsized.

Tamayo said there had been reports that the 14 passengers and crew of the Jon-Jon could have been rescued earlier but another passing passenger ship did not stop to rescue them.

He ordered Commodore Rolando Dizon, district commander of PCG-Central Eastern Visayas district, to conduct a formal inquiry into the incident.

If it is proven that the vessel was aware that there were people in distress and yet ignored them, then the ship captain may be held liable for violating provisions of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.

Ship passengers stranded

Around 1,200 passengers were stranded at the ports of Batangas City and Calapan in Oriental Mindoro when the PCG suspended all sea vessel trips to Mindoro, Batangas and Romblon due to storm Feria Wednesday morning, officials said.

Joy Hernandez, administrative assistant of Batangas 2 Port Terminal, said the PCG suspended all trips as early as 3 p.m. last Tuesday in anticipation of the strong wind and rainfall brought by the typhoon.

Hernandez said around 600 passengers were stalled in terminals 2 and 3 in Batangas Port when all roll-on, roll-off vessels from Montenegro Shipping Lines, Besta and Starlite were barred from traveling, as well as the fastcraft of SuperCat and RS Shipping Lines.

Meanwhile, around 600 passengers were also stranded at Calapan Port apparently bound for Batangas and Manila.

Chief Superintendent Luisito Palmera, Region 4-B Police Director, said at least 14 buses with 350 passengers were stranded at Calapan Port while 136 cargo trucks and private vehicles with 262 passengers were also stalled.

Meanwhile, airport authorities in Manila cancelled 31 domestic flights due to the typhoon.

The 16 flights that were grounded at the Manila Domestic Airport included Zest Air and SeaAir planes bound for Caticlan, Aklan and Surigao. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific cancelled 15 flights.

The Philippine National Police alerted all its regional units to activate their respective disaster response and civil defense teams and assist local government units in the conduct of search, rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa also ordered the Special Action Force, Maritime Group and the other national support units to be on full alert and ready to execute search and rescue capabilities. – With Evelyn Macairan, Mike Frialde, Non Alquitran, Arnell Ozaeta, Celso Amo