6 killed, close to 4,000 affected due to rain in southern PH—disaster execs

MTSAT ENHANCED IR Satellite Image for 6 a.m., 18 February 2012

MANILA, Philippines – Continuous rain in the southern part of the Philippines spawned by a low pressure area over Palawan has killed six and affected close to 4,000 persons, disaster authorities said Friday.

Office of Civil Defense Director Benito Ramos said two victims were confirmed dead in Manay, Davao Oriental, one each in Buhi and Lagonoy towns in Camarines Sur and one in Mercedes, Camarines Norte. All the victims died due to drowning, Ramos said.

Meanwhile, one more person was confirmed dead while another was confirmed to be missing in a landslide behind the house of Vice Mayor Rogelio Lorenzano, in Barangay (village) Lacong, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Ramos said.

In a separate interview, Office of Civil Defense Region 1 administrator Melchito Castro identified the recovered body as Gerito Leal while the missing victim was identified as Eleazer Vallaron.

Castro said that search and rescue teams were working non-stop to look for Vallaron under the 20-foot pile of mud.

Meanwhile, 3,863 persons or 731 families from Regions VIII (Eastern Visayas), X (Northern Mindanao) and XIII (Caraga) were affected, 2,905 of who were housed in evacuation centers, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management said.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that the low pressure area was seen 230 kilometers west-southwest of Puerto Princess, Palawan. Likewise, the tail-end of a cold-front is also affecting Northern Luzon, the state-run weather bureau said.

The whole country will continue to experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. Skies will become cloudy with widespread rains over Palawan, the eastern sections of Northern and Central Luzon and the western sections of Visayas and Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides, Pagasa said.