'Jolina' exits RP, leaves 6 dead

MANILA, Philippines - Six people were reported killed and seven injured as tropical storm “Jolina” battered several regions, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported yesterday.

The NDCC said four people were still missing yesterday after they were reportedly swept away by raging floodwaters in Jaro, Iloilo and Antipolo City.

The NDCC identified the fatalities as Conchita Rosimo, 68, and her four-year-old granddaughter Edralin Rosimo, who both perished in a landslide in Antipolo City last Friday.

The other fatalities include Sasrah Shiela Provido and Desiree Tabaculdi of Barangay Tugbungan in Iloilo City; four-year-old Mark Aquino of Patnongon, Antique and George Benitez of Valencia, Negros Oriental.

The NDCC also said seven people were wounded in the affected regions.

A total of 9,230 people in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Antipolo and San Mateo, Rizal and Sultan Kudarat were evacuated.

The NDCC said 22,498 families or 105,559 people had been affected by Jolina, which also caused heavy rains in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Mass evacuation in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao is also being undertaken due to heavy rains and rising floodwaters.

These provinces experienced flooding from the overflowing Rio Grande River since last late month due to the heavy monsoon rains further aggravated by typhoon Jolina, NDCC administrator Glenn Rabonza said.

“As of 2 p.m. yesterday search and rescue and evacuation operations are still on going as many residents are still trapped in Barangays Bulalo, Salimbo, Katuli, Banubo, Mulang and Senditan where floodwaters have already destroyed several houses,” Rabonza said.

“Flash floods occurred in Palawan while overflowing river channels and streams also resulted in widespread flooding in low-lying areas of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro,” Rabonza added.

The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), on the other hand, said four people were killed and another was missing in Sarangani and General Santos City.

The provincial disaster management council in Negros also reported a two-month-old baby died after a tree fell on their house in Isabela town in southern Negros.

Disaster officials are also confirming reports of an eight-year old boy missing in Barangay Man-oling, in Cauayan town.

PNRC regional administrator Merly Gludo reported a total of 1,155 families or more than 5,000 people in Saranggani and General Santos City were left homeless by flashfloods.

Gludo said a total of 1,147 houses were partially damaged while eight houses were totally damaged due to continuous rains.

The state weather bureau said Jolina continues to move away from the country but would induce more monsoon rains over western Luzon and the Visayas this week.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the storm was spotted some 540 kilometers west-northwest of Laoag City, packing winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

Jolina is expected to move west-northwest at 26 kph or 680 kms west-northwest of Laoag City.

Chief weather forecaster Prisco Nilo said monsoon rains would prevail over the Ilocos provinces, La Union and Pangasinan in the next 24 hours.

The rest of western Luzon and western Visayas would have occasional rains while the rest of the country would be mostly cloudy with scattered rainshowers, Nilo said.

The Coast Guard has ordered the suspension of sea travel from Surigao City to Siargo and Dinagat islands.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Victor Ibrado directed the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to dispatch two transport and heavy-lift B-205 helicopters to conduct evacuation operations in Sultan Kudarat. –With Jaime Laude, Mayen Jaymalin, Helen Flores, Antonieta Lopez, Charlie Lagasca