First 'Labuyo' fatality recorded in Baguio City

MANILA, Philippines - A backhoe operator was killed in a landslide in Baguio City at the height of Typhoon Labuyo, the state disaster response agency said Monday afternoon.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified the victim as Jomer Salicom, 23, of Cabuyao, Tuba, Benguet.

The NDRRMC said that based on initial reports from the city, Salicom was clearing a canal in Barangay Irisan of landslide debris when the area was hit by another landslide. The first landslide took place at around 8 a.m.

The vicitm was rushed to a nearby hospital, but physicians could no longer revive him.

The typhoon made landfall in Aurora province before dawn Monday and then headed to Nueva Vizcaya before hitting Baguio City. As of 1 p.m., the storm was still near the city.

The typhoon was expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday.

The NDRRMC, meanwhile, reported at a total of 244 families in Albay, Camarines Norte and Aurora have been evacuated to higher grounds as the typhoon battered Northern Luzon with heavy rains.

The displaced families were brought mostly to public schools.

The NDRRMC also reported that at least 9,000 passengers were stranded in various sea ports in Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Western and Eastern Visayas due to the bad weather.

The NDRRMC said that 34 passenger vessels, 669 rolling cargoes, 10 boats, were taking shelter in ports in Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate and Camarines Sur.

The agency earlier reported that a total of 23 fishermen from Camarines Norte and Catanduanes provinces, both in Bicol, have been reported missing.