Four drown in floods spawned by heavy rains in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—At least four people drown in floods triggered by heavy rains since Sunday in the provinces of Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, an official of the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol said Wednesday.

Bernardo Alejandro, OCD-Bicol director, identified the fatalities as Antonette Miserilla, 30, of Barangay Anib, Sipocot, Camarines Sur, and her six-year-old son Errol John.

He said the mother and son were on a carabao fording a swollen river on Monday when they fell off the animal and were swept away by the strong current and drowned. Their bodies were recovered in the town of Cabusao.

In Malilipot, Albay, police said, Dennis de Lima, 24, who was swimming with friends at the Palale Beach resort on Sunday and was carried by a strong sea current and drowned. His body was recovered at the shoreline of Barangay San Lorenzo in Tabaco City, also in Albay.

Earlier reports said a fisherman in Catanduanes fell from his boat while fishing and drowned in heavy seas.

Bicol was affected by moderate rains in the past five days due to a low pressure area off Palawan.

Bernardo said at least two persons were still missing  in  the towns of Bulusan in Sorsogon and Gigmoto in Catanduanes. At least  four fishermen from Catanduanes and Camarines Sur were rescued.

The state weather bureau said cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers was experienced in Bicol and Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas due to the tail end of a cold front.