Fisherman from Pangasinan is 3rd ‘Kabayan’ fatality

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll from tropical storm “Kabayan” has risen to three after a fisherman who was initially reported as missing was found dead.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said fisherman Quintero Artemio from Infanta, Pangasinan, was found dead in Agno, Pangasinan, days after he went missing.

The victim went fishing last Thursday and was recovered on Saturday night.

Earlier, the tropical storm – which exited the country last Saturday – claimed the lives of Samuel Corcoro in Aurora province and Raquel Camilo in Nueva Ecija.

The agency said 36 fishermen who went missing at sea in separate incidents have been rescued, mostly from Infanta and Bolinao in Pangasinan; Agoo in La Union; and Baler in Aurora.

The NDRRMC said 27 fishermen from the Ilocos and Central Luzon were still missing as of Monday morning despite relentless search and rescue operations.

The victims went missing in five separate incidents from September 30, Wednesday, to October 3, Saturday.

A total of 4,565 families or 22,368 people in the provinces of La Union, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Zambales were affected by the tropical storm.

Seven evacuation centers are still housing 1,391 families or 6,480 people in these provinces.

The agency added that 48 barangays were still flooded in the provinces of Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Pampanga, as of Monday. Power outages are being experienced in Pangasinan, Aurora and Benguet, according to the NDRRMC.

In the provinces of Pangasinan and Aurora, a total of P1,120,716.59 in damage to agriculture was reported after the tropical storm.

“Kabayan” also destroyed 131 houses in Aurora and Nueva Ecija, while 12 roads and two bridges are still not passable due to landslides and floods in Central Luzon and the Cordillera region.