Low pressure area leaves 7 people dead

MANILA, Philippines - Seven people have died due to a low-pressure area that hit various parts of the country, a disaster management official said yesterday.

Benito Ramos, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said two fatalities were reported each in Davao Oriental, Camarines Sur and Ilocos Sur, while one died in Camarines Norte.

Five of the casualties drowned while two were buried in a landslide.

The two fatalities in Davao Oriental were from Manay town while the two casualties from Camarines Sur were from Buhi and Lagonoy.

The two persons who died in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur were buried in a landslide that occurred in Barangay Lacong last Tuesday.

Earlier police reports identified the two landslide victims as Jerry Leal, 40, resident of Barangay Lacong, and Eliazar Valiaron of Angeles City, Pampanga.

According to the Ilocos Police Regional Office, the victims were digging a deep well when the incident happened at around 9:20 a.m.

The two were reportedly digging at the bottom of a 30-meter deep hole when a large portion of the soil suddenly tumbled down. The victims’ companions tried to rescue them but failed.

The low-pressure area also left one person dead in Mercedes, Camarines Norte, where a motorized boat capsized last Wednesday.

The boat that capsized near Barangay 5 in Mercedes town had six passengers and was loaded with bamboo.

The boat was recovered at Barangay San Roque of the same town but only five fishermen were recovered alive. The survivors are now with their respective families.

NDRRMC said the low-pressure area had affected 731 families or 3,863 persons in 70 barangays in Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions.

A total of 571 families or 2,905 persons are now inside 26 evacuation centers.

The low-pressure area damaged five houses in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.

Flooding incidents occurred in Panabo City and Asuncion, Davao del Norte and parts of Leyte. Landslides were also reported in Abuyog and Mahaplag in Leyte and Sogod, Southern Leyte.

“Affected roads in the said areas were temporarily blocked due to debris but were later opened after the completion of clearing operations,” an NDRRMC report said.

Ramos said the NDRRMC Operations Center remains on red alert and is continuously monitoring the situation in affected areas. A red alert means all disaster management personnel are placed on standby to respond to emergency situations.

51 dead

In another development, the death toll from the earthquake that hit Negros Oriental last Feb. 6 has risen to 51.

Ramos said seven of the injured, six of them from Guihulngan City and one from Ayungon, died of injuries.

He said a body of a woman was recovered yesterday by military and police personnel in Barangay Solonggon, La Libertad at 1:10 p.m.

Of the 51 fatalities, 23 were from Guihulngan City, 10 were from La Libertad, nine from Jimal, three each from Tayasan and Ayungon, two from Manjuyod and one from Bindoy.

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake affected 52,933 families or 265,335 persons. More than 40,000 persons remain inside 74 evacuation centers.

The earthquake damaged P383-million worth of property.