Search on for 5 fishermen missing in Catanduanes — report

At least five fishermen from Catanduanes province were reported missing in the wake of recent floods and landslides that hit the Bicol area. Government-run dzRB radio quoted Maj. Harold Cabunoc, spokesman for the Army's 9th Infantry Divsion, as saying search operations are ongoing for the five. "Pinaabot ito sa atin mga 1 p.m. kahapon na nawawala ang lima (We received reports of the missing fishermen Friday afternoon)," he said. Citing initial reports, he said the surnames of the five were Vivar, Soledad and Villar. Bicol was among the areas hit hard by floods and landslides caused by heavy rains that stemmed from a cold front. Several families had been preemptively evacuated in Albay province due to the threat of landslides and floods. Last Friday, the province, which is under a state of calamity, was declared an "open city" to allow faster entry of aid for affected residents. — LBG, GMANews.TV