Lando death toll rises to 30

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from typhoon "Lando" has reached 30 while the amount of damaged properties has exceeded P5-billion.

New fatalities were reported in Cordillera, Ilocos and Central Luzon.

A report by the Office of Civil Defense Cordillera said three of the casualties died due to landslides, namely, Fernando Gumpad, 56, of Benguet, Antonio Pallay, 61, of Ifugao and Reginaldo Basilio, 38, also of Ifugao. Two others drowned after being swept by strong currents, namely, Ryan Biglay, 23, of Abra and Norton Jose, 26, of Benguet.

The Baguio City Police said two minors, namely, Diane Tucay, 7, and her sister Vanessa Tucay, 6, died of injuries after being buried in a landslide in along Tacay Road.

Four new fatalities were recorded in Central Luzon, the region worst hit by the typhoon. Aurora residents Armando de Leon, 26, and Riza Lisma, 40, died after being hit by a fallen tree. A certain Leonardo Cinco, 11, of Aurora and Evangeline Cortez, 57, of Zambales died of drowning.

Four others died after a boat capsized in Bani,  Pangasinan, according to the Pangasinan Provincial Police. They were identified as Sixto Veloria, 59, Cristina Veloria, 58, Trisha Cabana, 3, and one-year-old Susan Cabana.

Three persons remain missing while 36 others were injured as of Monday evening.

A total of 446,322 persons or 99,004 families have been displaced and are either inside evacuation centers or in the houses of their relatives and friends.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the amount of properties damaged by "Lando" has reached P5.305-billion. The bulk of the said amount or P5.304-billion represented agriculture damage while damaged infrastructure accounted for P520,000.

A total of 4,919 houses have been damaged in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon and Cordillera.