'Dodong' exits, leaves 6 dead

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm “Dodong” exited the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday, leaving at least six people dead and two others missing, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said monsoon rains would still prevail over some parts of the country in the next few days.

PAGASA said Dodong (international name Sarika) would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over the western section of Northern and Central Luzon this weekend.

PAGASA weather division chief Robert Sawi said the intertropical convergence zone will bring rains and thunderstorms over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in the next two to three days, becoming frequent rains over the eastern parts of Visayas and Mindanao due to the expected approach of another low pressure area.

For the rest of Luzon, good weather associated with warm and humid condition is expected, aside from afternoon or evening showers and thunderstorms, Sawi said.

Dodong left six people dead and several fishermen missing since Thursday.

An earlier report said at least 26 fishermen from Pangasinan went missing after venturing into the South China Sea directly in the path of Dodong.

Bolinao, Pangasinan police director Chief Inspector Noriel Rombaoa said the 24 fishermen on board fishing vessel 3MS Wolf were rescued by passing cargo ship M/V Sea Palace off the coast of Agno town.

Rombaoa said the fishing boat capsized after being battered by rough seas during the approach of the storm.

He said the regional Coast Guard had been deployed in the area to investigate another report that two other fishermen on board FB Billy Martinez went missing since Thursday.

Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Algier Ricafrente added three fishermen onboard the F/B Eric that reportedly capsized in Alaminos, Pangasinan were rescued by a passing motorized banca.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, Dodong was spotted at 330 kilometers northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

It was forecast to move north-northwest at 25 kph.

Dodong is expected to be 540 km northwest of Basco, Batanes this morning.

It was the fourth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first weather disturbance this month. With Eva Visperas, Evelyn Macairan, Ric Sapnu, Alexis Romero, Dino Balabo