Storm Florita, landslides leave six dead

Landslides triggered by heavy rains spawned by tropical storm Florita left at least six people dead in Baguio and Olongapo cities, officials said yesterday.

Strong winds and heavy rains lashed Metro Manila, where authorities suspended classes in all levels.

Some flights were canceled as Florita, packing winds of up to 75 kilometers per hour and gusts of 95 kph, dumped heavy rains and caused sporadic floods in Metro Manila.

In Baguio, a seven-year-old girl died in a raging flood, and one of several landslides overnight buried a four-year-old boy in his home.

There will be no classes today in all levels in Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and the Cordillera Administrative Region, Malacañang announced last night.

But there will be work in government offices in these regions, the Palace said.

Local authorities identified the fatalities as four-year-old Osios Balbaoang Jr., and Gracel Benito, 7.

Balbaoang was reported missing after a landslide buried his family’s house in Purok 24, San Carlos Heights, at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

The boy’s parents, Osios Sr. and Jonalyn Balbaoang, and siblings Oscar and 11-month-old Olivia were injured and brought to the Baguio General Hospital.

Eight other people were also hospitalized, according to Baguio Mayor Braulio Yaranon.

"We have to consider them fatalities... because the seven-year-old child was swept away by flood water and (the chance of) recovery is practically nil. The parents (of the four-year-old) saw the child pinned down," Yaranon said.

Earlier Tuesday, a seven-year-old girl identified only as Grace was reported missing after she was blown by strong winds and fell on a creek beside the road in Barangay Brookside.

Officials said a strong gush of wind blew her umbrella causing her to lose balance.

In Barangay New Cabalan in Olongapo City, a mother and her three children also perished while two others were seriously injured when a large tree fell on their shanty due to strong winds.

Police said the four fatalities, identified as Tessie Villegas Solano, 43, and her sons Gilbert, four years old, and twins Robert and Jeric, were pinned to death after a Gmelina tree fell on their house.

The family was watching television late Tuesday when the tree fell down on their shanty, pinning them underneath.

Electricity was cut in parts of Baguio, and at least five cars were buried under 15 meters of mud and concrete, officials added. It is unclear, however, if there was anyone inside them.

In a travel advisory issued at 10 a.m. yesterday, the Department of Public Works and Highways declared as impassable four major roads affected by the typhoon in the Cordillera region: Trinidad Road and P. Burgos street in Baguio City, Kennon Road in Benguet, and Talubin-Narlig-Natonin-Paracellis Road in Mountain Province.

DPWH-CAR director Mariano Alquiza said their maintenance crew already started clearing operations in the affected areas using heavy equipment.

In Nueva Vizcaya, intermittent brownouts hit some areas including the capital town of Bayombong and the neighboring town of Solano as strong winds brought by typhoon Florita pounded the province and the rest of the region yesterday.

Several government offices suspended work in the afternoon and some school officials suspended classes as a result of the typhoon.

Meanwhile, despite the rains, irrigation officials assured the public that the situation of the Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela is under control.

Authorities raised the storm alert signal to No. 3 in the Batanes group of islands where the storm is expected to pass before making landfall on the northern tip of Taiwan later today, forecasters said.

In Metro Manila, some offices of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Manila Police District (MPD) were flooded as water seeped into the lower levels of the buildings.

Classes in all levels were suspended due to heavy and continuous rainfall brought about by the storm.

The Department of Education (DepEd) announced the suspension of classes in the elementary and high school levels before noon yesterday.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) later announced the suspension of classes at the college level.

Local government units that declared the suspension of classes early yesterday include Malabon, Navotas, Cainta, Taytay, and Parañaque City.

The University of Sto. Tomas on España Avenue in Manila suspended all its classes even before the announcement.

Defense Secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council chairman Avelino Cruz said yesterday Malacañang suspended classes in all levels and work in government offices in the National Capital Region as well as Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, and the Cordillera Administrative Region due to the continuing inclement weather.

On the other hand, hundreds of commuters were left stranded after the operations of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 were suspended when a portion of its power line was hit by lightning.

At the Domestic Airport some 10 domestic flights were canceled and another 10 were delayed due to the strong winds and heavy rains that pounded the metropolis yesterday.

The weather situation is expected to persist in the next two days as the tropical storm moves towards Taiwan.

The Pagasa weather bureau said Florita was expected to exit the country Thursday "but strong winds and rainfall will continue because of the southwest monsoon until Saturday afternoon."- With Sandy Araneta, Bebot Sison Jr., Charlie Lagasca, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Edu Punay, Rainier Ronda, Aurea Calica, Sheila Crisostomo, AP, AFP