Gener death toll up to 8; 200,000 affected

MANILA, Philippines – Torrential rains brought by typhoon Gener has claimed at least eight lives, and has left over 200,000 persons affected, a report from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday.

In its latest bulletin, the additional fatality was Leyan Hayo of Mariveles, Bataan, who died from drowning.

Meanwhile, 44,982 families or 219,015 persons were affected from 19 provinces in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western and Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao and National Capital Region.

Those served inside and outside of evacuation centers were 1,895 families or 8,476 persons.

Four remained missing, the fishermen in Ligaya village in Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental which left three days ago have not returned since.

Residents of Aplaya Old Site in Baseco, Tondo, Manila take temporary shelter at the Baseco covered court on Monday at the height of typhoon Gener.INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

The fishermen were off to fish near Calintaan aboard two bancas with two men each.

As of posting time, seven typhoon-damaged bridges and 24 roads were closed in several provinces.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, local government units and non-government organizations in the National Capital Religion, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas have released a combined amount of P1.032 million cost of assistance.

At least 1,163 houses were damaged, the NDRRMC said.

Typhoon Gener maintained its strength and continued to move north northwest Tuesday.

Public storm warning signal number three remained in Batanes Group of Islands, while public storm signal number two was still up in Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands and Babuyan Group of Islands, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Meanwhile, public storm signal number one remained in Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao.

As of 11a.m., Gener was spotted 210 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It was moving north northwest at 7 kph.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas were alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal #3 and #2 were alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were advised not to venture out into the Seaboard of Luzon and Visayas due to the combined effect of typhoon “Gener” and the southwest monsoon. Typhoon “Gener” was expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains and moderate to strong winds over Luzon and Visayas especially the western section.

Estimated rainfall amount is from 10 – 35 mm per hour (heavy – torrential) within the 700 km diameter of the typhoon, Pagasa said.

Typhoon Gener was forecast to be 240 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes by Wednesday morning; 460 km North of Basco, Batanes by Thursday morning; and 670 km north northwest of Basco Batanes oroutside the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday morning.