‘Feria’ death toll climbs to 9

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from tropical storm "Feria" (Nangka) went up to nine as of Thursday evening, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said. Feria, which battered the Visayas but weakened and spared Metro Manila Wedneday evening, blew into the South China Sea west of Manila Thursday. In its 6 p.m. report, the NDCC said the latest two fatalities were from Aklan province, identified as Jun Mark, 15; and Aldrin Nicolas, 13, both of Camanci village in Batan town. Both died of drowning, the NDCC report said. At least seven people remained missing, including a four-year-old child in Romblon, while at least five were reported injured. Damage to property was estimated at P106.170 million, including P85.150 million in damage to infrastructure and P21.020 million in damage to agriculture. The NDCC said "Feria" affected at least 11,994 families or 56,522 people in 174 villages in 15 provinces in Southern Luzon, Bicol, and Western, Central and Eastern Visayas, and Metro Manila. It said at least 625 houses were destroyed while 6,492 were damaged. On the other hand, the number of people stranded went down to 1,389 in 15 ports in Southern Luzon and Bicol as of 4 p.m. Thursday. Meanwhile, the NDCC said that as of 4 p.m., power in the Luzon grid was back to normal, but Del Pilar village in San Pascual town in Batangas still experienced power failure. Several roads and bridges in Pampanga, Romblon, Masbate, Antique, Negros, and Leyte remained unpassable to vehicles. - GMANews.TV