‘Pedring’ pummels Luzon; at least eight dead

MANILA, Philippines – At least eight people died as Typhoon “Pedring” (international codename: Nesat) pummelled Luzon, authorities said Tuesday.

Five persons were killed in the National Capital Region, a staff from the Office of the Civil Defense-NCR said.

In a phone interview, Edna Anda said a wall collapsed in Mapulang Lupa in Valenzuela which killed a family of four.

She identified the victims as CJ de los Santos, 6; James de los Santos, 3; Romel Amarga, 4; and their grandmother, Emelita Naya, 63.

Meanwhile, a fatality and an injury in Caloocan were also recorded, she said.

Anda said a tree fell on a house in Barangay (village) 179, Alibangbang Street, Caloocan, which killed a mother although her 13-year-old child survived.

In Valenzuela City, an adult and three children were crushed to death as the wall of a building collapsed, the OCD said.

In Zambales, one Willie Baldebisio, 36, was also hit by a falling tree in the village of Magsaysay in Castillejos, Iba.

In Candaba, Pampanga, a nine-year-old and resident of Sitio (sub-village) 3 Barangay Tolong Palazan died after their house collapsed.

The first reported casualty was a baby boy who fell into a swollen river in the east of the country on Monday night, the office said.

The agricultural provinces of Isabela and Aurora were the most heavily affected initially, although storm alerts were also hoisted in over 40 other areas, including Metro Manila, the state weather bureau said.

The presidential palace announced the suspension of all classes and work for government agencies in Manila and other affected areas.

Some roads around Manila, a sprawling megacity of more than 12 million people, were impassable on Tuesday morning due to flooding and falling debris, including branches that had been ripped off tree.

The Philippine Stock Exchange also suspended trading, while operations of Manila’s main overhead railway system ground to a halt due to a power outage, stranding passengers in the morning rush hour, officials said.

Anda said the OCD has no record of missing persons as of posting time.