2 dead, 5 missing due to storm Kristine in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY – The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol (OCD 5) reported on Wednesday that two persons died while five fishermen are missing in the region due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami). 

In a phone interview, Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD-Bicol spokesperson, said the victims are a 22-year-old male from Palanas town, Masbate province, “who had a respiratory arrest secondary to cervical cord injury secondary to trauma by falling off a branch of a tree,” and a 71-year-old male from Bagamanoc town, Catanduanes province, “who fell from the house.”  

Naz said coordination was also conducted with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Masbate for the five missing fishermen from San Fernando and Dimasalang towns. 

Meanwhile, OCD recorded 133 houses damaged by the weather disturbance in the provinces of Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Camarines Norte, eight of which are totally damaged, while 125 are partially damaged.

It added that 168 national and local roads and bridges were affected by “Kristine” as of Wednesday, 112 of which are not passable to all types of vehicles, 46 are not passable to light vehicles, nine are only one-lane passable, and one is passable to light vehicles only.

Likewise, 34 power interruptions and outages were reported by 36 local government units in Bicol region. 

Naz said 12,226 families, or 47,583 persons, were displaced by the weather disturbance.

Of the total, 9,627 families, or 38,994 persons, are inside 1,201 evacuation centers; while 2,599 families, or 8,589 persons, are staying with relatives.

Around 71 cities and municipalities reported 542 floods and four rain-induced landslides. 

In a separate interview, OCD-5 Regional Director Claudio Yucot said that all disaster response assets of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine Army in Bicol were deployed for various rescue operations in different provinces in the region. 

“The government is doing its best to provide the necessary interventions for the affected residents. Last night, many people needed help to evacuate but the water was too high to enter. But this morning, many have been rescued and the rescue operations of our response units continue,” he said. 

Yucot said Bicolanos are known for being typhoon-resilient, but no one expected the amount of rain “Kristine” would pour into the provinces.

He said they already requested for augmentation of rubber boats, heavy trucks, bottled water, and food assistance from their central office.

“We also coordinated with the (Army’s) 8th Infantry Division; they also committed human resources and equipment to help us,” he added. (PNA)