'Gener' death toll increases to 3

MANILA, Philippines - Three persons have been confirmed killed and thousands more were displaced as tropical storm "Gener" pummeled Luzon and parts of Visayas with strong winds and non-stop rains since Sunday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified the fatalities as Roland Necor, 33, of Bugasong, Antique; Ernest Flores, 60; and Teodoro Flores of San Pablo City, Laguna province.

The NDRRMC said that Necor died from drowning last July 28 while Flores was one of the passengers of M/V Shuttle Roro 1, which ran aground in Romblon province on Sunday night.

The third fatality, meanwhile, died after his house was hit by a toppled palm tree.

A fourth fatality, which has yet to be included in the NDRRMC's official list, was found in Cavite province.

In its 11 a.m. report, the NDRRMC said that a total of 5,816 families or 28,631 people in seven provinces in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas have been affected by the storm's strong winds and rains.

Of the said number of affected families, only 539 families or 2,413 individuals were in evacuation centers and the rest are either staying with their relatives or friends.

As of 10 a.m., the tropical storm's center was estimated at 360 kilometers east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 290 kilometers east southeast of Basco, Batanes.

The storm was packed with maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 135 kph. It was moving north northwest at a speed of 11 kph.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the storm will leave the country's area of responsibility by Thursday morning and head to Taiwan.

Public storm warning signal No. 2 remains hoiste over Cagayan including Calayan Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands and Batanes Group of Islands. Signal No. 1 was raised over Isabela, Kalinaga and Apayao.

Intense rains

PAGASA said in its advisory that "Gener" will bring "heavy to intense" rains over Luzon and Visayas.

"Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under Public Storm Warning Signal #2 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone," the weather bureau warned.

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts were advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

As "Gener" continued to pour heavy rain over Luzon, water level in several dams raised, including the La Mesa Dam.

The local governments of Quezon City and in the Camanava area has ordered the evacuation of their residents living along the Tullahan River, which was expected to overflow once the La Mesa Dam reaches the critical level.

As of 12 p.m. Monday, the La Mesa Dam's water level as already at 79.83 meters. It's spilling level is 80.15 meters.

Water levels in Angat, Ipo and Ambuklao dams were also elevated due to rains brought on by the storm since Sunday night.

Flooding in several areas in Metro Manila and parts of Luzon have also been reported. Several local government units have cancelled classes in their respective areas.