Kabayan leaves 2 dead, 31 missing

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Kabayan (international name Mujigae) left at least two persons dead and 31 others missing in Luzon, disaster management officials said yesterday.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Central Luzon identified the fatalities as Samuel Corcoro, 29, of Maria Aurora town in Aurora province, and Raquel Camilo, 57, of Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. Corcoro drowned while Camilo died from snakebite.

Regional civil defense offices also reported that 30 of the missing persons were from Pangasinan province in Ilocos region. At least 19 of the them were among the passengers listed on 29 fishing boats reported missing. Another 10 were from a fishing vessel that sank off Dasol town at the height of the storm.

The number of persons who went missing in Ilocos rose to as high as 121 last Saturday; it was eventually decreased after the local governments launched rescue operations.

The OCD said the figures, as of 5:45 p.m. yesterday, are still partial as other local units continue with their response operations and have yet to submit reports. – Alexis Romero