2 die as fishing boat capsizes off Southern Leyte

MANILA, Philippines — Two fishermen were reported dead while six others were rescued after their boat capsized in the waters off Southern Leyte yesterday.

Bad weather due to the shear line and the northeast monsoon have been affecting parts of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, with several areas submerged under water.

Reports said the fishermen, who were from Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, were sailing in Barangay Manglit, Pintuyan town when they encountered big waves and strong winds at around 3 a.m.

The fishermen opted to drop anchor 100 meters away from the shore, but their boat capsized, causing two of them to drown.

The six survivors were brought to the Pintuyan municipal disaster risk reduction and management office.

Meanwhile, nine more fishermen have been reported missing since Saturday in Viga and Virac, Catanduanes.

Four of the fishermen – identified as Juanito Estrella, 51; Jobert Gianan Teaño, 33; Ringo Tupic, 37, and Willy Ralf Uchi, 35 – were reported missing in Viga.

The five others were identified as Arnel Araojo, 43; Domingo Borilla Jr., 33; Dante David, 41; Jason Mandasoc, 31, and Noel Zafe, 41.

President Marcos ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development to assist residents affected by the bad weather.

Food packs were distributed in flood-hit areas in Bukidnon, Camiguin, Eastern Samar, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental.

Fair weather in next 3 days

Fair weather is expected to prevail in most parts of the country in the next three days, state weather forecasters said.

Luzon including Metro Manila is expected to continue experiencing cold weather due to the northeast monsoon or amihan.

No low-pressure area or weather disturbance has been spotted in and outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

Parts of the Visayas will experience rain due to the shear line, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

PAGASA said Metro Manila could expect fair weather with chances of isolated light rains from today until Wednesday.

Temperatures in the metropolis would range from 23 to 31 degrees Celsius, it said.

Baguio City will be much colder at 13 to 22 degrees Celsius. Bicol will be cloudy with light to moderate rain.

PAGASA said the Visayas could expect cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms while most parts of Mindanao would have fair weather with isolated rain.

Meanwhile, 23 houses were destroyed by strong winds in Western Mindanao, where several barangays were hit by flashfloods yesterday, local disaster officials said.

Heavy rain in Zamboanga

In Zamboanga City, a person was reported missing while another was injured when heavy rain intensified on Christmas Eve.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (NDRRMC) on Saturday issued an orange rainfall warning over Western Mindanao for the next day.

Heavy rain started pounding the region on Saturday while strong winds battered Mapun Island, Sulu’s remotest area, and destroyed 10 houses along the coastlines.

Five barangays were flooded in Lamitan, Basilan due to continuous rain.

The NDRRMC also hoisted over Zamboanga peninsula an orange rainfall warning, which means possible flooding or landslides due to heavy to intense with at times torrential rain. – Alexis Romero, Roel Pareño