Death toll from floods now 47; rains threaten south Luzon

The death toll from floods and landslides in parts of the country in recent weeks rose to 47 Saturday after taking into account figures from Western Visayas. On the other hand, state weather forecasters warned of possible flash floods and landslides in Quezon province and the Bicol region. “Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the Bicol region and the province of Quezon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. PAGASA said this is due to the Northeast Monsoon prevailing over Northern and Central Luzon, and the diffused tail-end of a cold front affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. In its 6 a.m. update, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the latest fatalities were from Catanduanes, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur in Bicol; and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas. These included:

* Ricky Villar, 28, of Payo, Panganiban, Catanduanes; * Armando Mallete, 51, Castilla, Sorsogon (drowning); * Chen Te Hao, 37, Lagunoy, Camarines Sur (landslide); * Amelyn Logronio, 9, Bacolod City (drowning); and * Jose Anonas, 37, EB Magalona, Negros Occidental (electrocution)

Villar was among the fishermen from Catanduanes who were earlier reported missing. At least four remained missing as of Saturday. These included Ronnie Jupson, 19, of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur; Bicol fishermen Patricio Peregrino and Joseph Soledad of Panganiban, Catanduanes; and Bartolome Rabonque, 57, of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. The NDRRMC said the floods and landslides had affected 268,079 families or 1,388,830 people in 1,471 villages in 147 towns and 16 cities in 25 provinces. Some 3,733 families or 18,099 people are still staying in 80 evacuation centers. At least 413 houses were destroyed and 1,169 more damaged. Damage to property was estimated at P1,552,005,494, including P417,715,140 in agriculture and P1,083,732,418 in infrastructure. Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said two areas in Western Visayas have also been placed under a state of calamity. These include Silay and Victorias Cities in Negros Occidental. — LBG, GMANews.TV