1 dead as 'Crising' continues onslaught in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - One person has been confirmed killed and hundreds of families were displaced as tropical depression "Crising" hit provinces in Mindanao, the government's disaster response agency reported Wednesday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that the lone fatality, identified as Francisco Digaynon of Barangay Andap, New Bataan in Compostela Valley province, drowned after attempting to cross the Taytayan River.

The NDRRMC said a total of 16,730 families or 59,634 persons have been affected by the storm in 47 barangays in Northern Mindanao and Davao regions. It reported that a total of 85 houses in the two regions have also been damaged due to the storm's onslaught.

It also reported that more than 20 flights bound to and from Mindanao have been cancelled because of the bad weather.

As of 10 a.m., the storm's center was over the Sulu Sea, 220 kilometers northwest of Zamboanga City.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the storm was moving west northwest at a speed of 24 kilometers per hour and packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center.

Public storm warning signal number 1 remains hoisted over southern Palawan, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Basilan and Sulu.

PAGASA said that the storm was expected to move nearer Palawan province by Thursday morning.

It also reported that a low pressure area has developed 220 kilometers northwest of the province’s capital city of Puerto Princesa.

The weather bureau warned people living in low lying and mountainous areas to be on alert against possible flashfloods and landslides.

The NDRRMC has been on red alert status since the storm entered the Philippine area of responsibility.