‘Ineng’ kills 10 before slowing down

In one day, Typhoon “Ineng” (international name: Goni) killed 10 people and injured five in northern Philippines.

In its latest bulletin on Ineng’s effects nationwide as of 12 noon on Saturday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that on Aug. 21 alone, seven people were killed, mostly by landslides triggered by the typhoon, in the Cordillera Administrative Region and the Ilocos Region.

Regional police in Cordillera, meanwhile, reported three deaths in Benguet province. All were killed from landslides.

The latest fatalities were identified as Ilocos Sur native Michael Martin Lagasan, whose vehicle was trapped under a landslide in Palatong, Mankayan, Benguet province; and Glen Poloc Baldasan, 27, who suffocated under a landslide also in Manyakan, where he lived.

Earlier, the NDRRMC reported five fatalities on Friday, including a 10-year-old boy whose house was swallowed by a landslide in Sabangan, Mountain Province.

By Saturday, five people have already been reported injured in the typhoon due to landslides, two tornado incidents, and flying debris in the Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Batanes provinces.

Two people missing since Aug. 20 have yet to be located: Jubert Bumatau, of Barangay Baraoas Norte, La Union, and Jay-Ar Millari, of Ilocos Norte, the NDRRMC said.

Since the typhoon entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Aug. 18, a total of 5,416 persons or 1,194 families have been evacuated in Regions I, II and the Cordillera Autonomous Region. Of these, 1,735 persons or 420 families have been sheltered in evacuation centers.

Eighteen national roads and seven bridges have been closed due to landslides in Cagayan and Cordillera.

Public storm warning signal No. 3 remains hoisted on the Batanes group of islands; No. 2 on northern Cagayan area, including Calayan and the Babuyan group of islands; and No. 1 in some parts of Calayan, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga and Abra.

But in its latest weather bulletin as 5 p.m. on Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration noted that Ineng had weakened slightly, with gustiness of up to only 185 kph.

The typhoon continues to move in a north-northeast direction, with its center located northeast of Basco, Batanes, as of Saturday afternoon.

Within 24 hours, it is expected to be 405 kilometers northeast of Basco, and by Monday, outside of the Philippine area of responsibility.

Pagasa still estimates moderate to heavy rainfall in areas within 500 kilometers of the typhoon, and monsoon rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

Pagasa warned residents in low-lying and mountainous areas in provinces with storm signals of possible flashfloods and landslides.

Those living in coastal areas with storm signals 2 and 3 are warned of storm surges of up to a meter high. RC

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