2 dead, 21 missing as storm ‘Ofel’ slams Phl

MANILA, Philippines - At least two persons have been reported dead while 21 went missing due to the onslaught of tropical storm “Ofel” (international name Son-tinh).

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos yesterday identified one fatality as Sophia Recto, who allegedly died of hypothermia in Marinduque.

The Office of Civil Defense in Albay, meanwhile, said a construction worker died while another was in critical condition after the beam bridge that they were working on collapsed in Barangay Guinlahon, Sorsogon City due to continuous heavy rains.

Raffy Alejandro, Office of Civil Defense regional director, identified the fatality as Raymond Mirabuena, 42.

The NDRRMC also said nine individuals have been reported missing, including Jonrey Acaso, 28, of Pintuyan, Southern Leyte; Jonnie Ocson, 8, of Odiongan, Romblon; Mohammad Kanape Guiamad, 11, of North Cotabato; Rigel Saycon, 18, of Cebu; and Abet Posto, 12, Ariel Posto, 23, Climente Umban Jr., 50, all from Tacloban City.

Apart from the nine missing reported in Manila, twelve fishermen were also reported missing in Tacloban City as of press time because their bancas capsized last Wednesday off Dio Island due to strong winds and big waves caused by Ofel.

The NDRRMC said close to 1,000 persons have been affected by Ofel.

A total of 16,473 passengers, 97 trucks and cars, 37 passenger buses, 825 rolling cargoes, 106 vessels and 50 motor bancas were stranded due to the bad weather.

The Philippine Coast Guard, for its part, reported yesterday that a cargo ship loaded with 1,166 sacks of copra sank in Zamboanga City last Wednesday after the vessel took in water.

Some 32 domestic flights of Cebu Pacific, Airphil Express and Zest Air were canceled yesterday, also due to Ofel. – With Helen Flores, Aurea Calica, Celso Amo, Fred Padernos, Cet Dematera, Rudy Santos, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan

Storm warning signals lowered

The state weather bureau lowered yesterday public storm warning signals in several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao as Ofel accelerated and moved toward the West Philippine Sea.

However, Metro Manila, Bataan, Zambales, Cavite, Batangas, northern Mindoro and Lubang island remained under public storm warning signal number 1 as of 4 p.m. yesterday.

Jori Loiz, weather forecaster at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said Ofel was forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility before 2 p.m. today.

But he said rains would still affect some parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, until today as Ofel moved away from the country.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Ofel was spotted at 40 kilometers west of Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It was forecast to move northwest at 24 kph.

Ofel was predicted to be 530 km west of Vigan City, Ilocos Sur this afternoon.

P-Noy monitoring developments

In Sydney, President Aquino said yesterday he was monitoring developments in the Philippines as Ofel hit the country.

He was getting updates regularly and had asked Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, the incoming secretary to the Cabinet, to call and coordinate with concerned agencies and submit periodic reports.

The President said he was assured by Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman that “all of the necessary relief, for instance, is already prepositioned.” 

– With Helen Flores, Aurea Calica, Celso Amo, Fred Padernos, Cet Dematera, Rudy Santos, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan