'Quinta' death toll climbs to 11

MANILA, Philippines - Four more people were confirmed killed due to the onslaught of "Quinta," bringing the total death toll from the tropical cyclone to 11.

 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that six of the fatalities were recorded in Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas.

 

The fatalities were identified as Warlito Lutero, 50 of Barangay Panuran, Janiuay, Iloilo; Mark Angelo Bayutas, 18, of Barangay Licoan, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo; Jonaire Deretso, 33, of Binangawan, Iloilo; Erlinda Almirante, 60, of Barangay Aglobong, Janiuay, Iloilo; KC Lozada, 4, of Barangay Sagcub, Lambunao, Iloilo, Franklin Fadriga, 34, of Sitio Angel, Dumalag, Capiz; Rodrigo Busa, 56, Rosita Busa, 50; and Kimjie Busa, 7, all residents of Barangay Del Pilar, Maydolong, Eastern Samar; Julio Silvano, 36, of Barangay Macario, Merida, Leyte and JOeliver Casipong, 34, of Barangay Sabang North, Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

 

Two more persons have been reported missing. They were identified as Mario Austria, 55, of Talisay, Batangas and Christian Olivar, 15, of Dumalag, Capiz.

 

The NDRRMC said that a total of 28,242 people were affected by the typhoon in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas and Central Visayas. It added that a total of 13,569 people were still staying in evacuation centers as of Friday morning.

 

"Quinta" developed into a tropical depression in waters off Northern Mindanao on Christmas Day and made its first landfall over Leyte province on December 26. The weather bureau had said that the storm made at least six landfalls over the Leyte area.

 

After crossing parts of Visayas and Palawan, the storm dissipated and was downgraded back to a low pressure area on December 27.

 

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that "Quinta" should be the last storm that would enter the Philippine area of responsibility.

 

The storm followed the powerful typhoon, "Pablo," which crossed over land and devastated parts of Mindanao during the first week of December. A total of 1,067 people have confirmed killed due to the typhoon and 834 remained missing.

 

Of the more than six million people affected by "Pablo," a total of 13,940 are still staying in temporary shelters set up by the government.