‘Ompong’ fatalities rise to 30
Massive search and rescue operations were launched in various parts of northern Luzon as the death and destruction caused by typhoon “Ompong” slowly revealed itself yesterday with at least 30 people dead, 13 missing in landslides or coastal areas, and property and public infrastructure destroyed.
As of 1 p.m. Sunday, 24 deaths were already recorded in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), according to a report from the Critical Incident Management Committee Center based in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Five more deaths were re-
ported in Cagayan Valley (Region 2) and one more listed in Ilocos (Region 1).
Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, who was appointed as the pointman of President Duterte on typhoon response, said Sunday that reports of deaths and missing persons mostly due to landslides during and right after the onslaught of the typhoon were still coming in.
“They all died as a result of landslides. There were families buried alive after their houses were hit by landslides while some died after being hit by boulders and other debris while cleaning after the typhoon,” Tolentino told The Manila Bulletin in a phone interview.
The fatality count does not include yet the death of a teenage girl whose body was plucked from Pasig River over the weekend.
Authorities earlier corrected their earlier declaration that two responders died in Cordillera.
Many die in CAR
Tolentino, who was in CAR, said at least 13 others were reported missing as of yesterday — eight in Baguio City and five others in Benguet.
“There were also reported injuries in various parts of CAR, mostly as a result also of landslides,” the official said.
Baguio City Disaster Risks and Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) said among the fatalities in the landslides were Shaina Mae L.Pascua, 19, and Grace Ganabe, 45, in Youngland Subdivision, Camp 7, Baguio City; Cynthia Ballingan, 18, of Barangay Bakakeng; Lovely Jane L. Bulakit, 11, of Sto. Rosario, Bakakeng Norte; Jessica Oydoc Glenuar, 18, of Balacbac, Sto. Tomas proper.
Another fatality, Meriam Behis, was pinned to death by a fallen tree in Camp 7, Baguio City.
In Benguet, victims who died of landslides were Silvestre Beljica Mojica, 67; Luke Vicson Mojica, 18; and Kristine Garcia, 43, of Camp Dangwa, Alapang, La Trinidad; Junjun Bulcio, 28, of Barangay Loacan, Itogon; Hope Coti, 6, and two still unidentified fatalities in Barangay Ucab, also in Itogon.
Punong Barangay James Bitao, of Barangay Pugong, Pasil Kalinga, also died due to multiple head injuries because of a landslide.
In Mountain Province, six reportedly died when a landslide buried their house in Barangay Alab, Bontoc. They were identified by authorities as Rolando Baggay, 68; Nina Baggay, 68; Darwin Minimo, 37; Clyde Minimo 4; Lani Beth Minimo Baggay, 36;and Kierstinx Mae Minimo, 13.
SAR mode As of yesterday, Tolentino said more people were deployed in the affected areas to conduct search and rescue missions in areas where landslides were reported.
“We are all in search and rescue mode as of this time. We want to go as quick as possible in areas hit by landslides or areas cut off as a result of the typhoon,” said Tolentino.
Requests for equipment and additional manpower were also made in order to expedite the search and rescue mission.
Thousands affected As of yesterday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), reported that there were 63,769 families or 250,036 persons affected by Ompong in 30 provinces in Luzon.
Of the figure, almost 40,000 families or almost 150,000 people are currently housed in various evacuation centers.
The OCD received reports of 81 landslides during the heavy rains and strong winds brought by typhoon Ompong in the region
Damage
Based on the initial ocular assessment, Tolentino said agriculture suffered the most in the typhoon devastation in northern Luzon.
“The damage is really at the agriculture. But we cannot do something about it no matter how we prepared, that’s a force of nature,” said Tolentino.
Last Saturday, the City of Ilagan in Isabela which is the “Corn Capital of the Philippines” was placed under a state of calamity, following damage to crops amounting to 1370 million.
In Pangasinan, the Cayanga Bridge in San Fabian was damaged and motorists going from the north to Dagupan City were advised to take alternative routes.
Weather to improve
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday that the weather in Luzon was likely to improve today after the exit of typhoon “Ompong.”
Ompong continued on its path towards southern China after exiting the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Saturday night.
PAGASA Weather Specialist Gener Quitlong said that today, the country will experience an improved weather condition saying that good weather is expected in the next two or three days.
With this, PAGASA has powered all tropical cyclone warning signals in the country.