TYPHOON 'MINA' DEATH TOLL HITS 17; DAMAGE PLACED AT P956 MILLION"
MANILA, AUGUST 30, 2011 (STAR) By Jaime Laude and Helen Flores (Photo is loading... Residents of Barangay Bagunot in Cagayan province walk on a wooden plank to cross the river yesterday after the bridge collapsed at the height of typhoon 'Mina.' JONJON VICENCIO)
Typhooon "Mina" weakened into a storm yesterday as it moved away from the Philippine area of responsibility, but not after leaving 17 persons dead, with eight others missing and 21 injured, reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
NDRRMC and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) head Benito Ramos said the trail of devastation left by Mina in 73 municipalities, four cities and 15 provinces from the six regions also resulted in the destruction of close to P1 billion in agricultural crops as well as private and government infrastructure.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Mina was spotted at 340 kilometers northwest of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.
Mina was forecast to move west northwest at seven kph.
Storm warning signal no. 1 remained hoisted over the Batanes as of 5 p.m. Yesterday.
Mina is expected to be 500 kms north northwest of Basco, Batanes this afternoon.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) administrator Nathaniel Servando said the southwest monsoon, enhanced by Mina, will still bring light to moderate rains over the western section of Luzon, including Metro Manila, until Wednesday.
"In NCR (National Capital Region) we expect improving weather although it will still be partly cloudy to cloudy with possible rainshowers and thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening," Servando said.
PAGASA supervising undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Mina was expected to leave the country last night.
He said the weather in Luzon will start to improve by Wednesday.
PAGASA warned residents in low lying and mountainous areas, particularly over the western section of Northern and Central Luzon, against possible flashfloods and landslides.
Those living in coastal areas were also warned against big waves generated by monsoon surge.
Ramos said eight of the fatalities were from Ilocos, six from Cordillera, and one each from Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Bicol regions.
The latest fatalities in Ilocos were identified as Pablo Lazaro, Andres Calaro of Ilocos Norte, Romeo Ping-ilin of Mountain Province, Rustom Paul Joaquin and Mark Lester Agdeppa both of Ilocos Sur. The four died of drowning.
The new fatalities in Cordillera were Gefonie Cael and Rodolfo Gagucas both of Baguio City. The two were buried in a landslide.
Other people who died during the height of the typhoon were Mark Erol Colipano of Quezon City, Alex Magno of Benguet, Romeo Dang-alan Jr. of Ilocos Sur and Ruel Cabalic Soria of Zambales.
Also reported dead were Reajen Bautista and John Rey Bautista both of San Fabian, Pangasinan; Revullar Flores and Apolinario Flores both of Baguio City; Floro Sulliven of Baguio City and Nelson Vergara of Catanduanes.
Those who were reported missing were identified as Fred Nantes Sr. of La Union, Roger Marqued of Ilocos Sur, Apolonio Licupaof Kalinga; Antonia Flores of Benguet, Joaquin Dagul, Gregorio Padua, Roberto Agaming and Dindo Candido all from Abra.
A total of 21 people, 11 of them from Benguet, sustained injuries. Six of the injured were from Quezon City, two were from Baguio City and one each from Apayao and Ilocos Sur.
NDRRMC said 231,314 persons or 56,167 families in 653 barangays in Metro Manila, Ilocos, Cagayan, Cordilleda, Central Luzon, Bicol, and Western Visayas regions were affected by the typhoon.
A total of 1,215 families or 5,369 individuals were inside 38 evacuation centers nationwide. Close to 56,000 persons or almost 15,000 families chose to evacuate to the houses of relatives or their friends.
Ramos said the typhoon has so far damaged P1.01-billion worth of property. Of this, P986.75 million were damaged crops, livestock and fisheries while about P23.2 million represented damaged infrastructure such as roads, bridges and schools.
But he said the damage could balloon to P2 billion due to the typhoon's impact on infrastructure.
DOH, DSWD on top of situation
Ramos said that as of yesterday, eight bridges and 20 road sections in the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley as well as in Metro Manila remained impassable to all types of vehicles due to flooding, landslides, and mudflows.
He added that some P5 million in assistance has been provided to the typhoon-affected residents.
The Department of Health (DOH) has provided P75,000 worth of medicine to the 15 provinces battered by Mina.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday assured local government units affected by the typhoon of sufficient relief supplies and additional funds.
As of yesterday morning, the government has released P4,110,306.50 to families affected by Mina. Of this amount, the DSWD poured in some P621,226.50 worth of augmentation assistance to affected LGUs, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said.
[PHOTO - Residents of Barangay Bagunot in Baggao Cagayan province cross a bridge to higher ground after typhoon MIna ravaged the area. JONJON VICENCIO]
She said 38 evacuation centers remained open serving 1,215 families with 5,369 individuals as of yesterday.
Some 763 houses have been reported damaged, 34 of which were totally damaged while 729 were partially damaged, Soliman said. Region 2 reported the most number of damaged houses with 585.
23 fishermen missing
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported the sinking of three vessels at the height of the typhoon and the maritime agency was also forced to postpone its search and rescue for 23 missing fishermen in Pangasinan because of bad weather.
PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Algier Ricafrente said that the M/Tug Unity II sank near the vicinity of Pier 18 in Vitas, Tondo, Manila, while being towed by its sister ship M/Tug Betheva.
The tugboat was reportedly battered by big waves that caused it to sink.
In Sta. Ana, Cagayan, the PCG received two reports of sunken ships.
Coast Guard District Northen Luzon (CGDNLZ) was prepared to launch a search and rescue operation for the 23 missing fishermen but had to call it off because of the bad weather. They would proceed once the weather and sea conditions improve.
PCG commandant Admiral Ramon Liwag earlier ordered two PCG vessels and one PCG Islander airplane to conduct search and rescue operation. – With Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Jennifer Rendon, Artemio Dumlao, Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca, AP
'Mina' leaves 12 dead, 9 missing By Jun Pasaylo (The Philippine Star) Updated August 29, 2011 12:00 AM
[PHOTO - Vegetable farmers carry their produce as they trek by foot on slippery, muddy trails as rains spawned by typhoon Mina (Manmadol) caused part of the mountainside to collapse at Halsema Road in Northern Luzon. AFP PHOTO]
MANILA, Philippines -- Super-typhoon Mina has continue to move away from the country leaving at least 12 people dead and nearly P1 billion damage in agriculture and infrastructures.
In its latest bulleting today, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Mina was last traced at 190 km north-northwest of Basco, Batanes.
Public Storm Signal No. 1 remained hoisted in Calayan Group of Islands, while Batanes Group of Islands was under Signal No. 2.
The NDRRMC also recorded a total 12 fatalities from Luzon areas: Pangasinan (2), Ilocos (1), Zambales (1), Catanduanes (1), Baguio City (4), Benguet (2), Quezon City (1).
The strongest typhoon that hit the country so far has also left 21 injuries, while nine others remained missing. It also displaced more than 170,000 persons from six regions in Luzon areas.
[PHOTO... Rescuers conduct a search and rescue operation after the retaining wall of a dump collapsed, causing a trash slide in Barangay Irisan, Baguio City at the height of typhoon 'Mina' Saturday. Andy Zapata Jr.]
The disaster agency also pegged the damage to infrastructures and agriculture to more than P955 million.
Amid Mina's heavy rains, the NDRRMC allayed fears of overflowing dam, saying the waters of the five major reservoirs (La Mesa, Angat, San Roque, Pantabangan and Calitaya) in Luzon remained below critical level.
In Baguio, a garbage dump's concrete wall collapsed and buried three shanties under tons of garbage Saturday, killing two children. Their grandmother remained missing, Ramos said.
[PHOTO - Buried in garbage. Heavy rain causes a breach in the Baguio City Dump, bringing 200 tons of garbage down to a residential area in Asin village in Tuba, Benguet, that buried scores of houses. Five were feared dead as rescue efforts continued. David Chan, MANILA STANDARD]
An alert bus driver saved the lives of his 18 passengers late Saturday in Benguet when he ordered them to hurriedly alight from the vehicle after sensing the soggy mountain road beneath them was about to collapse.
After they had left the bus to a safe spot, the road collapsed taking with it the empty bus down a deep ravine, said regional disaster official Olive Luces said.
"The driver's presence of mind prevented a disaster," Luces said.
There were no reported casualties in the Cagayan Valley region, the area directly hit by the typhoon.
Cagayan regional civil defense chief Norma Talosig said a preemptive evacuation was carried out before the typhoon hit the region.
However, a boat bringing relief to some people in the region capsized after being hit by big waves. Luckily, its passengers were able to swim back to shore.
Ramos said disaster response teams are continuously coordinating with local governments to assist people in affected areas.
Flash floods were reported in 21 towns and three cities in Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Benguet in the Cordillera Administrative Region; and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas.
Landslides occurred in Pangasinan, Zambales, Benguet and Zamboanga del Sur.
Meanwhile, tornadoes hit parts of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte and Culaba, Biliran in Eastern Visayas.
A total of nine bridges and 28 road sections in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Cordillera were impassable yesterday due to flooding, landslides and mudflows.
[PHOTO - Fallen trees and electrical posts are strewn on the streets of Baguio City in the aftermath of typhoon 'Mina.' ANDY ZAPATA JR.]
The NDRRMC said the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWD) allocated almost P25 million in standby funds for relief and assistance to people in typhoon-hit areas.
The amount of assistance provided by state agencies, and local governments to typhoon victims reached P4.57 million.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman has directed all social welfare and development teams to continue coordinating with the affected local government units to ensure quick provision of necessary assistance. With Alexis Romero, Helen Flores, Raymund Catindig, Dino Balabo, AP
'Mina' weakens after landfall By Evelyn Macairan and Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star) Updated August 28, 2011 12:00 AM
[PHOTO - Scavengers brave strong winds, brought by typhoon 'Mina,' to pick up recyclable materials along the seawall lining Roxas Boulevard in Manila yesterday. EDD GUMBAN]
MANILA, Philippines - Super typhoon "Mina" yesterday weakened after making landfall as it battered Northern Luzon, causing massive evacuation of families in Isabela and Cagayan and leaving four children dead in the province of Pangasinan and Baguio City.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday afternoon lowered the typhoon alert signal from 4 to 3 as Mina (international name Nanmadol) weakened but maintained its slow movement.
PAGASA senior weather forecaster Robert Sawi said the typhoon lost some of its strength when it made landfall in Sta. Ana, Cagayan province.
As of 5 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA announced that public storm warning signal no. 3 had been hoisted over Cagayan, including Babuyan and Calayan group of islands, Apayao and Batanes, with winds of 101-185 kilometers per hour (kph) expected in at least 18 hours.
[PHOTO - Members of the Disaster Management Office in Santiago City, Isabela ready a rescue boat in preparation for typhoon 'Mina.' VICTOR MARTIN]
Signal no. 2 has been raised over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao and Isabela with winds of 61 to 100 kph expected in at least 24 hours; and signal no. 1 covering La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Aurora with winds of 45-60 kph expected within the next 36 hours.
PAGASA also estimated rainfall of 15 to 25 millimeters per hour within the 600-kilometer diameter of the typhoon.
Sawi said this was almost only half of the rainfall of tropical storm "Ondoy."
Ondoy, which hit Metro Manila and Southern Luzon on Sept. 26, 2009, had rainfall recorded at 50 millimeters per hour.
PAGASA said the eye of typhoon Mina was located 50 kms northeast of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph.
It is moving northwest at 7 kph.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said 13 families (55 people) were evacuated from Maconacon, Isabela while 134 families (565 people) in Gonzaga, Tuao, Sta. Ana, all in Cagayan, were also evacuated.
In Isabela, the PNP said roads in Dimalaudi, Dinapigue, and the Cabangan-Sto. Tomas Bridge and the Alicaocao Bridge in Cauayan town have been rendered impassable to all types of vehicles.
The Tawi Bridge in Peñablanca, the Bagunot and Abusag bridges in Baggao, Cagayan, and the Cabatan Bridge in Tuguegarao City were also reported to be impassable to all types of vehicles.
In San Fabian, Pangasinan, two children were killed after a landslide buried the house of a certain Rolly Bautista in Barangay Rabon.
In Baguio, two children identified as Revillar Flores, 13, and Apolinario Flores, 10, were reported killed when the retaining wall of the Irisan dumpsite collapsed.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) head Benito Ramos said the remains of the children were recovered two hours later after tons of mud buried their hillside residence.
In the Cordillera Administrative Region, the PNP reported that 81 families (353 people) were evacuated in Baguio City; four persons were reported missing and two others injured.
Police said all roads and bridges in Abra are passable, except from Kiangan to Tinoc because of a landslide. In Apayao, the road between Barangay Butao to Poblacion was also blocked by a landslide.
In Baguio City, Kennon Road and Ambuklao Road were closed as police also reported that the City Camp Lagoon was flooded.
A strong tornado also reportedly hit a village in Sarrat town in Ilocos Norte, damaging 18 houses and leaving several others in disarray.
NDRRMC reported that two went missing in Ilocos Sur after having been swept away by strong currents. They were identified as Roger Manquit, 28, and 60-year-old Romeo Dangalan Jr.
In Mt. Province-Nueva Vizcaya Road, the Baguio-Bontoc Road and the Mt. Province-Ilocos Sur Road were also closed.
All in all, 15 domestic flights were cancelled due to the bad weather.
Families displaced
Mina's rainfall estimated to be at 15 to 25 millimeters per hour did not only affect the whole Northern Luzon but also Central Luzon and Metro Manila, as well as wide areas of the Bicol region and Western Visayas, directly affecting some 2,800 families or 11,720 people.
Most of these displaced families came from the 27 flood-stricken villages of Iloilo and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas, with 2,284 families; Albay in the Bicol region with 152 families; and 52 families from the towns of Gonzaga ad Tuao in Cagayan Valley where Mina made landfall yesterday.
The displaced families are now staying in various evacuations centers while some have sought shelter with relatives.
Seven barangays in Iloilo City were affected by the storm, even if the province was not directly hit, due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.
In some areas of Desamparados and Calubihan, floods were waist-deep.
According to reports, two elderly people were trapped in their flooded home at Barangay Desamparados, but were rescued by a team from the Philippine Navy.
Ramos said they have been monitoring widespread flooding and landslides in the Cagayan area yesterday but have yet to receive an official confirmation report from local regional disaster officials.
Ramos urged travelers who are planning to spend their long weekend in Cagayan Valley to forego their trip because of the prevailing severe weather system.
NDRRMC reported that water levels of the country's major dams remain below critical level, except for Magat, which opened one of its floodgates to release excess water, and Binga Dam, which opened two of its floodgates yesterday morning after the water reached the critical level.
DOH hoists Code White Alert
Over in the island province of Biliran, three school buildings at the Culaba Central School were blown away by a tornado that hit the school compound the other day.
Eighty-four passengers of a listing ferry survived after the M/V Maria Josefa, owned by the Montenegro Shipping Lines, en route to Catainga, Masbate from Bogo in Cebu, was able to return and dock safely at the Bogo port.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it is ready to dispatch search and rescue teams to Northern Luzon to address a possible maritime disaster.
PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Algier Ricafrente said they have deployed two water search and rescue teams, complete with rubber boats and rigid-hull inflatable boats with outboard motor, to Currimao, Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte. Another team was sent to La Union.
Three Special Operations Group divers were sent to help a trapped person under a bridge in Aringay, La Union.
The Coast Guard also called off its search and rescue operations for a fisherman who went missing when his motorboat capsized.
Ricafrente identified the victim as 48-year-old Fred Nantas Sr., a resident of Barangay Cariaquis, Luna, La Union.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has activated the Code White Alert in all government hospitals in areas where typhoon alerts were hoisted.
Dr. Carmencita Banatin, director of the DOH's Health Emergency Management Service, said these hospitals should make sure that they have enough medical supplies and manpower in case there is an increased influx of patients from affected areas.
"It's actually a standard operating procedure for our hospitals to be on Code White Alert if they are situated in a place affected by a typhoon. It's automatic for them. It has already been institutionalized," she said.
Banatin added the regional offices of the DOH in areas in the path of typhoon Mina have also been alerted in case they have to provide first aid and other medical assistance to typhoon victims - With Mike Frialde, Sheila Crisostomo, Rudy Santos, Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca, Artemio Dumlao, Jennifer Rendon, AP
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