Typhoon Rolly fatality count: 10 so far in Bicol from lahar, flooding

An aerial view shows destroyed buildings with ripped off roofs after super Typhoon Goni hit the town of Tabaco, Albay province, south of Manila on November 1, 2020. (Photo by Charism SAYAT / AFP)

GUINOBATAN, Albay—Authorities have counted 10 fatalities so far in the Bicol region from Category 5 Typhoon Rolly (international name Goni), the world’s strongest this year, in the provinces of Albay and Catanduanes.

Rolly dumped heavy rain and whipped up strong winds in Southern Luzon early on Sunday (Nov. 1), causing massive flooding and lahar flow from Mayon Volcano in the towns of Guinobatan and Camalig in Albay.

In Gigmoto, Catanduanes province, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) identified a fatality as Luis Ubalde, 48, and resident of the town.

In Guinobatan town, Albay, three residents from two villages—San Francisco and Travesia—at the foot of Mayon were killed when lahar, a mix of volcanic debris and water, came rushing down to populated areas at the height of Rolly.

The typhoon packed sustained wind of up to 225 kph and gustiness of 310 kph when it made its second landfall near Tiwi town, also in Albay at 7:20 a.m. on Sunday.

The OCD has identified the fatality in Travesia as Ligaya Olayta and in San Francisco as Malou Sanchez Nota and Samuel Cervantez Manrique Jr.

Two fatalities were also reported in the town of Malinao, also in Albay. They have not been identified along with other fatalities from the other towns—Oas, Daraga and Polangui—and Tabaco City in the province.

At least three residents of Guinobatan were declared missing. They were Elvie Cervantes Manrique and Michaela Cervantes Manrique of the village of San Francisco and Dace Ongario of the village of Travesia.

TSB