‘Mario’ leaves 5 dead, 6 injured, 1 missing

By: Nestor Corrales - 10 years ago

A man dives in the background as rescuers use a rubber dinghy to rescue trapped residents after continues heavy monsoon rains spawned by tropical storm Fung-Wong flooded Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines and most parts of the metropolis Friday, Sept. 19, 2014. AP

MANILA, Philippines—At least five people were confirmed dead during the onslaught of tropical storm “Mario” (international codename: Fung-wong) the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Saturday

Executive director Alexander Pama of the NDRRMC corrected its earlier pronouncement that seven people died as “Mario” barrelled through Metro Manila and nearby Luzon provinces.

Pama said five people were killed while six were injured and one was missing due to the storm worsened by torrential monsoon rains.

He said the NDRRMC was still verifying two more fatalities reported in Camarines Sur.

According to him, 153, 000 families were affected by Mario while 45, 000 were on evacuation centers.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “Mario” was spotted at 143 kilometers north-northwest of Laoag City with maximum winds of 105kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.

“Mario” was forecast to move north-northeast at 15 kilometers per hour and would be at 244 km north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes by Sunday morning.

The tropical storm was expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday evening.

The weather bureau raised public storm warning Signal No. 2 over Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Batanes Group of Islands, Apayao and Ilocos Norte.

Cagayan, Kalinga, Abra and Ilocos Sur are under public storm warning signal no. 1.

Originally posted: 10:06 am | Saturday, September 20th, 2014