At least 3 dead, 1 missing in ‘Nona’-hit Romblon

A passenger jeep drives through flooded streets caused by rains from Typhoon Melor in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015. Typhoon Melor weakened Tuesday as it crossed over the central Philippines, leaving one man dead and wide areas without power. AP

SAN PEDRO CITY-At least three people were killed while one went missing at the height of typhoon “Nona” (international name: Melor) in the province of Romblon, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said.

But even as the weather improved Wednesday, reports of typhoon damages from other parts of the province have yet to come in, according to PDRRMC chair Antonio Sarzona.

As of Wednesday noon, the island-municipalities of Banton, Corcuera, and Sibale remained cut off from the province’s capital – Romblon, Romblon – due to typhoon-damaged communication lines.

READ: ‘Nona’ lashes Romblon, weakens

Sarzona said the islands could have been “badly damaged” based on some photos posted online by residents just before phone and internet signals went out.

“Now, our contacts could not be reached (by phone) anymore,” he said.

In a phone interview, Sarzona said initial reports in the province recorded three fatalities.

He said one female victim died when hit by a toppled tree, while another woman died in a road accident due to “zero visibility.” From Banton island, a man was killed when hit by an iron sheet from a blown off roof of a house.

A woman was reported missing in Cajidiocan town at the height of the strong rains.

A report from the regional DRRMC said 1,927 persons (481 families) were evacuated in Romblon, but Sarzona said residents have begun returning to their homes by Wednesday.

READ: ‘Nona’ out on Friday; new cyclone heads to eastern part of Mindanao