‘Igme’ exits Philippines, leaves 8 dead

Source: Project Noah | 4:00 pm, August 29, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical storm Igme has left eight people dead as it exited the Philippines for good on Tuesday night, officials said Wednesday.

Igme weakened into a tropical storm as it exited the Philippine area of responsibility after staging a brief return. At 10 p.m. Tuesday its eye was  550 kilometers north northeast of Basco, Batanes, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

There was no longer any tropical cyclone in the country, but a low pressure area was located some  325 kilometers east of Hinatuan City, as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, Pagasa said in a bulletin.

“The LPA is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains (5.0 – 10.0 mm per hour) and thunderstorms in Mindanao particularly over the provinces of Agusan, Surigao, Davao, Compostela Valley and Zamboanga,” the bureau said.

On the other hand, the southwest monsoon enhanced by Igme (international name: Tembin) is seen to continue bringing moderate to heavy rains (3.0-15.0 mm per hour) with strong winds in the provinces of Ilocos, La Union, Abra, Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan, Pagasa said.

It warned that the downpours may trigger flash floods and landslides in those areas.

“Igme” left eight people dead, three missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Wednesday.
A total of 383 families or 1,617 persons were affected in 15 villages in La Union.

The fatalities were identified as follows:

• Michael DC Estacio, 15, Brgy. Sto. Tomas, La Union; drowning.

• Renante Frigillana, 45, Brgy San Juan East, La Union; drowned after being carried by strong current of water.

• Patrick Ramilo, 18, Camo Diego, La Union; died from drowning.

• Jimmy Jesus Gapuz, 43, Tanqui, La Union; died from leptospirosis.

• Michael Suarez Dajoya and Eyen Tantan Opamin from Brgy Bag-ong, Zamboanga del Sur; carried by strong current of water.

• Rene Rasaga, 40, Molave, Zamboanga del Sur; carried by a strong current of water.

• Jimmy Grimaldo, 51, Brgy Pakiling, Quezon; carried by a strong current if water while fishing.

Still missing were Amado Rimando, 49 from Burgos who was swept away while crossing the river; John Rex Gapuz, 15, from San Fernando who was carried by strong current; and Crisanto Sibayan, 36, from Sto. Tomas, who fell from a motorcycle while crossing a spillway. All were from La Union.

Seven persons were rescued by authorities during the storm.

As of Tuesday, Abra Kalinga road remained closed to traffic, NDRRMC said.

Two dams have kept their gates open as of Wednesday, Binga and Ambuklao in Benguet, to let out excess water.

Originally posted at 09:05 am | Wednesday, Aug 29, 2012