Death toll hits 20 as Ineng exits

MANILA, Philippines - As Typhoon Ineng (international name Goni) exited the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday, disaster officials said it left at least 20 people dead and sustained more than P165 million in damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ineng would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, which would bring rains over the western section of Luzon, including Metro Manila, until today.

Monsoon rains would also persist over Bataan, Zambales and Pangasinan today, PAGASA said.

“Residents in these areas are advised to be alert against possible flashfloods and landslides,” the agency said in an advisory.

PAGASA weather forecaster Shaira Nonot said Ineng left the Philippine area of responsibility at 12 a.m. Monday and was moving towards southern Japan as of yesterday noon.

Nonot said improved weather condition is expected in Metro Manila beginning tomorrow and in the western section of Northern Luzon on Thursday.

 Fatalities

The death toll due to the onslaught of Ineng over the weekend went up to 20. New fatalities were recorded in Central Luzon, Ilocos and Cordillera Administrative Region.

The Office of Civil Defense Central Luzon reported that two children died of drowning – Reanne Quintero, 2, and her nine-month-old brother Regenty – while their five-year-old brother R-Gien was reported missing. Their house was swept by strong currents along Manganvaka River in Subic early dawn yesterday.

In La Union, Jubert Bumatay, 21, also died of drowning. He went missing last Thursday.

Mark Tobias, 24, also drowned in Abra.

Benguet provincial police spokesperson Sr. Insp. Joyce Ann Dayag said an unidentified male cadaver was retrieved at the landslide area in Mankayan, Benguet.

Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan said four bodies were also pulled from under tons of mud in the Cordillera region where more than a dozen people were unaccounted for.

Meanwhile, Bongbong Dawaton, 22, of Tabuk City, Kalinga was rescued by authorities yesterday, 22 hours after he was reportedly swept by raging waters of the Chico River.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Ineng also left 17 persons injured. At least 13 remain missing as of yesterday evening.

The NDRRMC said a total of 16,499 families or 72,326 individuals were displaced by the typhoon in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and CAR.

Of the number, 2,700 families or 11,008 persons were brought to evacuation centers, while the others stayed with relatives or friends,

The Department of Social Welfare and Development gave assurance that the military has begun airlifting food, water and relief supplies to thousands of affected families.

As of 4 a.m. yesterday, the DSWD said assistance worth P3.1 million has been provided to affected families from the combined resources of the agency and local government units.

Damage

Data showed that infrastructure damage reached P121.48 million, while that of agriculture hit P44.2 million.

The Department of Agriculture reported yesterday that affected were 33 hectares of palay, 1,168 hectares of corn and 348 hectares of high-value crops.

A total of 1,028 houses were damaged in Ilocos, Cagayan, Calabarzon and CAR.

Fifty roads were still not passable, while seven bridges and two spillways were damaged.

But the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said it expected power to be restored in the first district of Ilocos Sur and the entire province of Ilocos Norte tomorrow. The power interruption was caused by a toppled 115-kiloVolt line tower along San Esteban-Laoag City.

According to the provincial DRRMC, several areas in Bulacan remain submerged in floodwaters as deep as one to three feet.

As of noon yesterday, water elevation at the Angat Dam was monitored at 183.05 meters – or three meters above its 180-meter critical level.

Bustos Dam fully opened its two sluice gates that discharge 250 cubic meters per second. As of 10:30 a.m. yesterday, water elevation was at 17.78 meters, a little over its spilling level of 17.70 meters.

Areas to be affected by the release of water from the Bustos Dam were Baliuag, Bustos, Plaridel, Pulilan, Calumpit, Paombong, Hagonoy, Angat, San Rafael and Norzagaray.

Classes in some areas in Central Luzon were suspended due to the continuous rains brought by the typhoon. These include classes in all levels in Bataan, and in the towns of Sta. Maria, Balagtas, Angat, Pulilan, Marilao, Bocaue, Pandi and Meycauayan in Bulacan; classes up to elementary level in San Fernando City; and classes up to high school level in Olongapo City. – With Artemio Dumlao, Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Raymund Catindig, Rainier Allan Ronda, Czeriza Valencia