MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from typhoon “Gener” rose to 14 yesterday while more than 150,000 persons were displaced by floods caused by heavy rains.
Gener gained strength and speed as it continued to move away from the country, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos said the latest fatalities were from Benguet, Romblon and Maguindanao.
In Benguet, Prisca Pacyaya, 64, of Itogon and Clinton Idio, 15, of Tublay, died in a landslide that occurred Tuesday morning.
Mariel Manzo, 11, of San Agustin, Romblon died due to a head injury sustained after she was hit by a fallen branch, while Edna Ibañez, 40, of Cajidiocan, Romblon, died after being hit by a coconut tree uprooted by strong winds.
In Maguindanao, a mother and her son drowned after a boat carrying them figured in a mishap in Tamontaka River in Kabuntalan town yesterday morning.
The fatalities were identified as Laga Gani Toni, 38, and her one-year-old son Datu Toni Jr.
The eight fatalities previously reported by the NDRRMC were Ieyan Hayo, 28, of Barangay Ipan, Mariveles; Bernard Buzon, 35, of Rosario, Cavite; Merly Datingnoo, 45, of Tingloy Batangas, Renante Jauculan Jr., 10 of Dipolog City, Danieles Hipolito of Bacoor, Cavite, Ronald Necor, 33, of Bugasong, Antique, Teodoro Flores, 42, of San Pablo, Laguna and Ernest Flores of Alaminos, Laguna.
A total of 303,941 persons or 63,670 families in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Metro Manila have been affected by the typhoon.
Of this number, 31,135 families or 154,211 persons were displaced but only 1,027 families or 4,619 persons are in evacuation centers. The rest sought temporary shelter with families and friends.
Five persons were reported injured because of the typhoon.
Edward Pantaleon, 16, and Edmund Pantaleon, 19, of Tibiao, Antique sustained injuries after they were hit by lightning.
The other injured persons previously reported by NDRRMC were Ezekiel Calubaguib and Rona del Ramos, who figured in a road accident in Hingyon, Ifugao and Edgar Vecimo, who sustained injuries after the ship carrying them encountered huge waves in Antique.
Rescued
NDRRMC said the bad weather stranded 1,514 passengers of water vessels.
Twenty Korean nationals and 22 fishermen were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in separate incidents in Cebu City and Antique province.
The PCG Central Visayas reported that the 20 Koreans were on board motorboat M/B Irish 3 that capsized off the coast of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu yesterday morning.
PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo said the PCG detachment in Semirara Island rescued 22 fishermen whose fishing boat F/B St. Mae capsized.
Only one of the crewmen of the three fishing boats that reportedly sank in Barangay Aguauan, Mariveles Bataan last Sunday is still missing. He was identified as Archangel Vicoy, a resident of San Jose, Antique province.
The PCG said that the fishing boats F/B Lady Jane, F/B John Mark-1 and F/B Joshua were hit by strong winds and rough seas as they were anchored and taking shelter at Barangay Aguauan.
A father and his 17-year-old son who went fishing in San Esteban, Ilocos Sur were reported missing.
The typhoon damaged a total of P2.13-million worth of properties.
Cagayan province was the worst hit as it sustained P2.1 million in agricultural damages.
The amount of damage, however, could still rise as local disaster management units were still submitting updates to the NDRRMC as of press time.
A total of 1,379 houses were damaged by the typhoon.
NDRRMC said the following areas remain flooded as of yesterday: Valenzuela and Malabon in Metro Manila, Dagupan City in Pangasinan, Claveria and Sta. Teresita in Cagayan, Hagonoy, Calumpit, Obando, Paombong, Meycauayan, and San Miguel in Bulacan, Castillejos in Zambales, and Apalit, Bacolor, Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, San Simon, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, San Luis and Sasmuan in Pampanga.
The amount of assistance provided by the government, local officials and non-government groups to affected areas has reached P2.6 million.
