'Santi' leaves 5 dead in Central Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Five people have been killed after the onslaught of Typhoon "Santi" in Central Luzon, the government's disaster response agency said Saturday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said two of the fatalities were from Pampanga identified as Michael Parungao and Police Officer 1 Crecensio Bueno.

It said Parungao died of electrocution while Bueno was buried alive by a mudslide.

Three of the fatalities were from Nueva Ecija, two of which were residents of Bongabon town and the other one was a resident of Jaen. The three victims were all killed by trees toppled by the strong winds of the typhoon, the agency said.

The NDRRMC said hundreds of residents in Central Luzon, particularly in Pampanga, Aurora, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, were affected by flooding brought on by the typhoon's heavy rains.

The agency also reported that three fishermen have been reported missing.

A total of 15 towns and two cities in Nueva Ecija and 17 more towns in Bulacan were flooded.

Earlier reports said that thousands of hectares of farm lands in both provinces were damaged by the typhoon's strong winds and heavy rains.

The typhoon made landfall in Dingalan, Aurora on Friday night and crossed Central Luzon. Among the provinces that were hit hardest by the typhoon was Nueva Ecija.

It exited land through Zambales province.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that as of 10 a.m., the typhoon was already over the West Philippine Sea or 100 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales.

The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Sunday morning. A new tropical cyclone, however, will enter the PAR the same day and it will be named "Tino."