“Mina” death toll rise to 17; 4 still missing

By Ronron
November 27, 2007

Nine more people were added on Tuesday in the list of those who died due to typhoon “Mina,” bringing to 17 the death toll, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported Tuesday evening.

In its 6pm report yesterday, the NDCC said the number of missing people have also risen to four from two, while one is injured.

According to the report, those added to the list of dead people are 1) Felipe Abawag, 65; and, 2) Santos Sabedra, 78, both of Conner, Apayao who died of drowning; and, 3) Jimmy Soriano, 6; and, 4) Lawagan Baggay, 69, both of Pinukpuk, Kalinga who died due to landslide; 5) Tunan Ambajane, 8; 6) Astang Ipit, 5; and, 7) Efren Roluna, all of Palawan; 8) Juanito Bulseco, 65, of Cagayan who drowned; and, 9) Eduardo Lugo, 58, of Isabela province, who also drowned.

The missing persons, meanwhile, are the following: 1) Reiner Abawag, of Conner, Apayao who allegedly drowned; 2) Junj-jun Rebilledo, 20, of Baggao, Cagayan who also allegedly drowned; and the two Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots who went missing with their AS-211 jet last Monday in Palawan.

Mino Bautista, 20, of Binmaley, Pangasinan, who was hit by a fallen tree, is the lone injured victim, so far, the NDCC report showed. He is being treated at the Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Medical Center for his lacerated upper lip and neck, and body pains.

So far, a total of 118,712 families or 540,305 persons have been affected by “Mina” from 1,169 villages of 129 towns and cities in 18 provinces from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 5, 8, and the Cordilleras.

Of these, 12,164 families or 56,354 persons are in 129 evacuation centers.

Most of the evacuees come from Region 5, with 9,865 families or 46,308 persons.

The second highest number of evacuees is from Region 8, involving 1,539 families or 6,195 persons.

The rest are from Regions 3, 4-A, and the Cordilleras.

There are no more evacuees in Regions 1 and 2, the NDCC report showed.

Also, 114 houses were damaged totally, while 2,533 were destroyed partially. These are from Regions 1, 2, 5 and the Cordilleras.

As of last night, “Mina” maintained its strength as it traverses the north Philippine sea.

It was packed with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of 80 kph, government weather bureau chief forecaster Nathaniel Cruz said.

In its 5pm advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Mina” was located 150 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, and was moving east northeast direction.

As for tropical depression “Lando,” which has reentered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) last Monday morning, Cruz said it has maintained its strength as it hit landfall late afternoon yesterday in Mindoro.

“Lando” had maximum sustained winds of 55 kph, and was expected to cross over to Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

“Lando” was moving east northeast at 26 kph, and was expected to be 140 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes this (Wednesday) afternoon. Based on its projected track, “Lando” will leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon.

Cruz said it is unlikely that “Lando” will strengthen because it will already sustain its contact over land until it exits in the Bicol region.

Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 is declared over Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Lubang Island, Romblon, Marinduque, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bataan, Bulacan, Quezon, Polillo Island, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Burias Island, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Ticao Island, Metro Manila, northern Palawan, the Calamian Group of Islands, Cuyo Island, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo and northern Samar due to “Lando.”

The weather bureau is also monitoring the movement of a low-pressure area in the eastern part of the country, particularly over the Pacific Ocean, which will be named as “Nonoy” once it enters the PAR. /DMS