By Ronron
November 28, 2007
Tropical cyclone “Mina” dissipated Monday morning after it weakened and was eaten by tropical cyclone “Lando” in the northeastern part of the country.
But it has left at least 19 people killed, eight missing and one injured, based on the latest report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) yesterday.
The death toll could even rise with the reported death of three people and the loss of six others whose boats capsized in Talisay, Batangas on Tuesday evening due to big waves brought by “Lando.” (See Jasmine’s story)
Those who died include one from Camarines Norte, seven from Camarines Sur, three from Palawan, two from Apayao, two from Kalinga, three from Cagayan, and one from Isabela. Most of them died due to drowning.
The missing victims, on the other hand, include one from Apayao, two from Palawan, and five from Cagayan.
According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecaster Ludy Alviar, “Mina” had dissipated at around 10 am yesterday because it was overpowered by tropical depression “Lando.”
At that time, “Lando” was located 180 kilometers north northeast of Virac, Catanduanes and was packed with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near (kph) the center.
It was moving northeast direction at 19 kph.
Alviar said that “Lando” may dissipate later Wednesday because of the cold air in the northern part of the country. Alviar said weak tropical cyclones dissipate when there is intrusion of cold air.
And because of the northeast monsoon, Alviar said the tropical depression in the eastern part of the country (“Nonoy”) may not even be entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) anymore.
“It could just move northwards,” Alviar said.
PAGASA Director Prisco Nilo had earlier projected “Nonoy” to enter the PAR either yesterday (Wednesday) or today (Thursday), with a great possibility of merging with “Lando.”
Because “Lando” has crossed land already, PAGASA lifted all public storm warning signals all over the country.
But NDCC Executive Officer Glenn Rabonza reported that “Lando’s” wrath was felt on Tuesday night when it caused big waves in the different parts of the country, even in areas where it did not hit directly.
Rabonza said several coastal barangays in Jolo, Sulu; Pangasinan; La Union; Ilocos Norte; Negros Oriental; Siquijor; Misamis Oriental; Dipolog City; and, Zamboanga City were affected by big waves.
In Pangasinan, 233 families or 1,155 persons from Dagupan City and four towns were affected by the big waves that they need to go to seven evacuation centers. More than half of them, however, have since gone home.
In La Union, 264 families or 740 people from San Fernando City and three towns also stayed at 12 evacuation centers briefly.
In Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, 725 families or 3,625 persons sought temporary shelter in five evacuation centers and have since returned home.
In Negros Oriental, 16 houses in Sitio Nagbagan, Barangay Poblacion in Sta. Catalina town were damaged by big waves, the affected residents had to be housed temporarily at the local chapel.
In Siquijor, only a big pile of garbage along the shorelines was caused by the big waves.
In Zamboanga City, 190 houses were damaged in five coastal barangays, displacing 350 families. Some of them are now in three evacuation centers.
Similar damages were left in Dipolog City.
Meanwhile, a seawall in Barangay Kawit, Zamboanga City collapsed due to the strong waves, while in Barangay karagatan, a half-lane of a road was closed due to accumulated garbage.
In Misamis Oriental, the coastal towns of Balingasag, Lugait and Initaio were also hit with big waves, damaging at least 50 houses and an undetermined number of fishing boats.
There were no casualties reported but 100 families in Lugait were evacuated to the town’s sports complex.
In Sulu, residents from the coastal barangays of Busbus, Tako-takot and Tulay were evacuated to Jolo Municipal Hall due to the big waves.
“What was relayed to me preliminarily was that this was not a storm surge. This was because it was also high tide at the time that we were experiencing a tropical cyclone in the country,” Defense Secretary and NDCC chairman Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. said of the big waves.
“I commend all our local officials for reacting right away and they used their own initiative and judgment to evacuate. What I want to ask them now is to continue monitoring the western coastlines, even the inland sea provinces like Siquijor, and use our own judgment to preemptively evacuate if they feel it’s necessary,” he added.
When “Lando” initially left the country over a week ago, it left 14 people killed and few others wounded. It reentered the PAR last Monday morning due to a change of course of “Mina,” a phenomenon scientists call as the Fujiwhara effect.
Meanwhile, the NDCC report showed that “Mina” has affected a total of 120,607 families or 552,344 persons from 1,282 villages in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 5, 8 and the Cordilleras.
But only 12,175 families or 56,420 persons remain in evacuation centers, mostly from Regions 3, 4-A, 5, 8 and the Cordilleras.
The NDCC said damages to infrastructure caused by “Mina” was worth over P162 million; for agriculture was over P109 million; and for school buildings was over P210 million./DMS
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