Storm 'Dante' toll: 21 dead, 3 missing in Bicol

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from tropical storm “Dante" has risen to 21 while three remained missing, disaster management officials said early Monday. Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol regional director Raffy Alejandro said that as of 10:30 p.m. Sunday, they recorded at least 21 casualties [fatalities], and three still missing. "As of 10.30 p.m., may 21 casualties sa Kabikulan and three more missing. Ang pinakamarami rito from Sorsogon, biktima ng landslide sa Hugo, Magallanes [As of 10:30 p.m. Sunday, we have recorded at least 21 casualties in Bicol, and three remain missing. Most of the casualties are from Sorsogon, victims of landslides in Hugo village in Magallanes town]," Alejandro said in an interview on dzXL radio. He also said electric power to Catanduanes province, one of the areas hit hard by “Dante," was cut off Sunday and may be restored Monday when the weather improves. Relief workers are having problems bringing goods to northern Catanduanes due to small landslides there, he added. On the other hand, Albay Governor Jose Salceda said they had "zero casualties" due to preemptive evacuation, but said the province suffered heavy losses in agriculture. "Ine-evacuate agad namin [We evacuated our people immediately, so there was no casualty]," he said in a separate interview on dzXL. A separate report on dzXL said Albay and Camarines Sur have been placed under a state of calamity to allow officials to access funds for relief work. For its part, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said Monday the Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Health (DOH) have sent doctors and medicines to affected areas. "Ang DSWD at DOH nagpadala ng gamot at duktor sa evacuation centers. Ang OCD nagpadala ng bigas at family food packs [The DSWD and DOH have sent medicines and doctors to evacuation centers. The Office of the Civil Defense sent rice and family food packs there]," NDCC deputy administrator Anthony Golez Jr. said in an interview on dzBB radio. In its report dated 11 p.m. Sunday, the NDCC said 20 of the fatalities include 15 in Sorsogon, two each in Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, and one in Catanduanes. Those killed included Jason Mercado and Joel Acal [drowning, both from Camarines Norte]; Purificacion Villamero, 61, and Joy Villamero, 28 [electrocution, both from Camarines Sur]; Domago Torio, 85 [electrocution, from Catanduanes]; Lucena Hilab, 38; Charles Hilab, 7; Rean Krista Coronado, 1; Epifanio Guardacasa, 59; Juliana Guardacasa, 54; Noel Guardacasa, 19; Rex Guardacasa, 15; Rennel Guardacasa, 11; Rodolfo delos Santos Jr., 44; Catrina delos Santos, 8; Renz delos Santos, 5; Eleanor Balquin, 49; and Jonalyn Coronado, 23; Isidro Hicap, 26, all killed by a landslide in Hubo, Magallanes, Sorsogon. The youngest fatality thus far was Nica Rose Habitan, 2 months, who died after her house collapsed in Gabao village in Irosin. Still missing are Jerry Guardacasa, 37, of Hubo, Magallanes; Sonny Balquein, 32, of Hubo; and Anthony Hombre, 23 of Hubo, after their houses were buried in a landslide. “Dante" affected at least 8,187 families or 48,645 people in 89 villages in 17 towns and one city in five provinces in Bicol. At least 622 families or 3,302 people are housed in nine evacuation centers. The NDCC said that as of 4 p.m. Sunday, at least 5,708 passengers, 58 small vehicles, 43 buses, 106 trucks, 15 motor bancas and 17 vessels were still stranded in Pasacao, Tabaco, Camaligan, Pilar, Bulan, Matnog, Babor, Sabang, Placer, Pio Duran and Victory ports. On the other hand, some 1,663 passengers and 165 vehicles were stranded at Looc Port while 547 passengers and 34 vehicles were stranded at Dapdap Port. Ferry operations in Looc and Dapdap ports in Allen in Northern Samar were canceled since Saturday due to “Dante." Landslides were recorded at Hubo in Magallanes, Sorsogon; Bulan in Sorsogon; and Sta. Rosa del Sur, Pasacao, San Isidro, Libmanan, Poblacion in Camarines Norte. Daang Maharlika after Cawayan Bridge remained impassable due to washed-out concrete pavement while Bacon-Manito Road and Rawis Bridge were impassable due to washed-out approach. San Roque Spillway in Bacon district had only one lane passable, while the pier was scoured at Sorsogon Bridge at Sorsogon Diversion Road. The Road to Magallanes and Donsol was impassable due to flooding. - GMANews.TV