‘Juaning’ death toll, 31

MANILA, Philippines – The death toll due to tropical strom Juaning (international codename: Nock-ten) has climbed to 31 as 27 others remained missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Thursday.

In its latest situation report, the NDRRMC said that as of 6 a.m., 23 persons were confirmed dead in Region 5 (Bicol), four in Region 4-A (Calabarzon), one each at the National Capital Region, Regions 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), and 4-B (Mimaropa) had one casualty each.

Juaning made landfall around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Casiguran, Aurora.

The NDRRMC identified the casualties from as:

Bernard Corteza, 10, Nicole Corteza, 7, Josh Corteza, 4, who died in a landslide in Gabon, Polangui, Albay; Felix Berta Dacuba Clet, 74 of Tiwi, Albay who died due to electrocution; Estring Leonisa, 76, of Libon Albay who was hit by a fallen tree; Rico Millena Llamera, 33 of Binalad, Daraga, Albay who died due to drowning; Demetrio Nace and JR Warde Nace of Poi Duran, Albay who were both hit by a fallen tree; Roque Sapico, 23 of Cobo Village, Tabaco City, Albay who also died due to drowning.

In Catanduanes, Noel Angeles, 49 of San Vicente, Viga, Catanduanes who died after being hit by a fallen electric post and Rolando Angulo, 50, of Bagamanok, Catanduanes and Rey Vergara, 39 of Virac, Catanduanes who both died due to drowning. The body of Sanito Diones Timato, 49 of Viga, Catanduanes was recovered after previously being reported missing. Alfedo Manibala, 73, died while fixing the roof of Bato, Catanduanes and Rickson Villasana of Bagamanoc, Catanduanes was also confirmed dead due to drowning, the NDRRMC said.

In Camarines Sur, Armando Molto, 28, of Barangay Sogod, Tinambak, Camarines Sur died due to a heart attack. Alfredo Casero, 62, Ofelia Casero, 56, Richard Casero, 23, Marian Casero, 18 and one-year old Edgardo Ineta all died in a landslide incident in Bagu, Sta. Rosa Norte, Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte. Also in Camarines Norte, the body of Nino T. Mora, 29, from Bulwagang Bato who died due to drowning was recovered. A miner, identified as Mavin Barrios and a resident of Barangay Benit, Labo, Camarines Norte was also confirmed dead.

Mary Grace Gedantes, 15 and Michael Minosa, 14, died after being hit by lightning in Carmona Cavite; Krisky de Mesa, 13, of Barangay Sto. Nino, Molanai, Quezon who died due to drowning. The remains of Alexandra Arandilla, a grade 6 student of Marketview Elementary school who was reported missing was also recovered.

In Ilolio, village chairman Joey Penafiel of Barangay Binanua-an, Igbaras, Iloilo died due to drowning after being carried away by the strong current while crossing a river. His body was recovered at Barangay Namocom, Tigbauan, Iloilo, the NDRRMC said.

Also found dead was Rodolfo Osacdin, 75, of Mogpog, Marinduque who died due to drowning.

The NDRRMC identified the lone casualty from region 7 as Chesrey Maghanoy, 8, of Barangay Candanay, Siquijor, Siquijor who died due to drowning.

In NCR, one casualty was confirmed dead and identified as Joven Dator, 7, of Talon Uno, Las Piñas City, who also died due to drowning.

Meanwhile, at the Cordillera Administrative Region, two persons, identified as Ricky Agwit and Jeff Domingo, were missing after a landslide in Nailagan, Aguinaldo, Ifugao province.

In Catanduanes, two fishermen, identified as Romeo Balamban, 37, and Romeo Robles, 39, both residents of Barangay Agban, Baras, Catanduanes have been missing since Sunday. In Albay, three fishermen identified as Emer Abas, 27, Elmer Balmaceda, 34, and Salvador Dungunan, Jr., 23, all from Rapu-rapu Island have been missing since Sunday. Also missing are the 19 fishermen on board FB Hope Christy which capsized in Masbate Wednesday, the NDRRMC said.

The disaster management council estimated that 130,225 families or 648,362 persons were affected by Juaning in the provinces of Quezon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Albay and in Muntinlupa City at the NCR.

In its latest weather bulletin issued at 5 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 4 a.m., Juaning was seen 240 kilometers west southwest of Laoag City.

The tropical storm also intensified slightly and was packing maximum sustained winds of 95kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 120 kph, Pagasa said.

Juaning also picked up speed and was traveling west northwestward at 22 kph.

Juaning was forecast to exit Philippine seas between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Thursday morning and by afternoon, the tropical storm was expected to be 440 km west of Laoag City.

By Friday morning, the tropical cyclone will be 680 km west of Laoag City or at 350 km southeast of Hainan, China.

First posted 1:47 am | Thursday, July 28th, 2011