Tropical depression ‘Ferdie’ leaves 2 dead, 6 missing—NDRRMC

MANILA, Philippines – Two people have died so far due to heavy rains brought by tropical depression “Ferdie”, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Saturday.

The body of Jonathan Sagodaquiel, 31, was recovered 8 a.m. Saturday after he was said to have fallen into the Lumban River in Laguna Friday around 5pm.

He was said to have been intoxicated while crossing the river in Barangay (village) Wawa when he was swept away by the strong current.

In a separate incident in Barangay San Isidro, Naguillan, La Union, the body of Wilcor Rellera, 35, was recovered in Pandanga Creek around 12 noon Saturday.

It was still unclear what happened to Rellera or when he drowned in the river, the NDRRMC said.

Meanwhile, six people are missing, including a six-year old girl from Barangay Lon-Oy, San Gabriel, La Union who was swept away by the strong current of Balballaya River.

Junrel Tamario, 20, from Dona Calixta, Barangay, San Andres, Cainta, Rizal, was carried away by the strong current while he was fishing in Dona Calixta Creek.

Four fishermen, identified as Teodorico Caampued, 60, Robinson Siso, 50, Rogelio Canayon, 35, Levi Caballero, 23, from Barangay Victory, Bolinao, Pangasinan are still missing after their boat was hit by strong waves along the coastal shores of Bolinao.

One person was rescued when he fell into a creek in Cainta, Rizal, Friday.

Kim Go, 17, was rescued after falling into General Ricarte Creek, Barangay San Juan, Cainta. He was reportedly drunk when he fell into the creek around 8pm. He was later rescued and brought to the Bagong Cainta Municipal Hospital.

Metro Manila and nearby areas were pounded by torrential rainfall of more than 40 millimeters (1.6 inches) an hour early Saturday, said state weather forecaster Gener Quitlong.

While “Ferdie” was passing off the country’s north coast, the bad weather in the capital was mostly caused by a seasonal monsoon, he told Agence France-Presse.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council told residents to prepare to evacuate as creeks and open sewers in the capital overflowed from overnight rains, swamping nearby slums as well as roads and causing traffic jams.

“Low-lying, flood-prone regions in (Manila and nearby provinces) are advised to take precaution. Usual high risk areas to flood are advised to evacuate residents,” the NDRRMC said.

AFP