LPA in Mindanao kills 5 - NDRRMC

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from the low pressure area embedded along the intertropical convergence zone has risen to five, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.

The latest fatalities were identified as Arjay Javier, 17, of Makilala, North Cotabato; Ronnie Cawangon, 36, of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur and Mark Glenn Casher, 27, of Rosario, Agusan del Sur.

Javier, who was reported missing previously, died of drowning after jumping into the river which had strong water current caused by rains.

His body was found Tuesday afternoon at Palma, River in Barangay Perez, M'lang, North Cotabato.

On the other hand, Cawangon and Casher died after a small-scale mining site in Barangay Alegria, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur collapsed last Saturday.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the incident but NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos said heavy rains may have triggered the collapse.

The other fatalities were Ruelyn Aling, 22, of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur and Zosito Andamon, 28, of Digos City. They both drowned after a flashflood caused by heavy rains hit Sta. Cruz town Sunday night.

The intertropical convergence zone has affected Visayas and Mindanao and has hit 33 barangays.

Majority of the affected barangays, 22 of them, are in Maguindanao-Lanao del Sur area, eight are in Zamboanga Sibugay and three are in Davao del Sur.

Ramos said their local disaster units are continuously monitoring the situation in affected areas and are providing assistance to affected residents. – Alexis Romero