‘Ofel’ leaves 11 dead, over 16,000 affected

MANILA, Philippines – The fatalities from tropical storm Ofel (international name Son-tinh) are now 11, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Friday.

The latest fatalities include:

Sheila Mae Resaba, 4 of Glan, Sarangani; hit by a fallen timber

Mary Joy Canete, 5, of Masbate; hit by a fallen tree.

The police also reported one fatality in Cebu, 66-year-old Ruben Tabara from Talisay, who died from landslide.

In Romblon, two teachers who died after their boat capsized Friday afternoon, NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos said.

The two were identified as Eve Fajutag and Grace Mallorca.

“Kumpiyansa sila na oustide of the Philippine area of responsibility si Ofel ero yung gale force niya nandiyan pa rin, nag capsize yung bangka, patay yung dalawa,” he said.

Philippine Coast Guard reported that the motorized boat had 55 passengers and 9 crew members.

The boat capsized along of Puyo, Calatrava Island in Romblon at around 12:10 p.m.

It was on its way to Semara Island when the incident took place, PCG said.

The storm has so far affected over 16,322 persons, 4,983 of who were housed in evacuation centers.

Tropical storm Ofel continued to move away from the country and was last spotted 570 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

It is forecast to be 800 km west of Dagupan City by Saturday morning.