Storm death toll rises to 4–NDRRMC

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MANILA, Philippines–Two more deaths have been reported, one of them a one-year old girl, due to tropical storm “Helen” (international name: Kai-Tak) bringing the total number of fatalities to four.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Wednesday that one-year-old Princess Nathalie Jamon from Paoay, Ilocos Norte, drowned at the height of the storm.

The other fatality was identified as Savino Mosquite, 44, from Naguilian, La Union, who was electrocuted in Barangay (village) Lioac. Police said he was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Public storm warning signal number two in several provinces were lifted as  Helen moved to West Philippine Sea Wednesday afternoon.

On its 5p.m. update,  Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, Calayan, Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, Apayao and Abra remained under public storm warning signal number two, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Menawhile, public storm warning signal number one was up at Isabela, Northern Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Pangasinan and La Union.

Moving west northwest at 17 kph, Helen maintained its strength and was packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It was located 90 km north of Laoag City at 4p.m.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal #2 and #1 were alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal #2 were alerted against big waves or storm surges.

Helen will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over the rest of Luzon and Visayas particularly over the western section.

Heavy to intense rains, or with rainfall amount between 15 and 25 mm per hour were seen within the 500 km diameter of the tropical storm.

Moderate to heavy rains or rainfall between 5.0 and 10.0 mm per hour and moderate to occasionally strong winds were expected over Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Luzon Wednesday night.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon and Visayas due to combined effects of Helen and the southwest monsoon.

Helen was forecast to be out of the Philippine territory by Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, yellow warning remained hoisted in Metro Manila as of 2:30p.m.

The public was alerted as flooding in low-lying areas was possible. With a report from Frances Mangosing