NDRRMC: 'Chedeng' death toll reaches 3

Typhoon “Chedeng" (Songda) finally moved out of Philippine territory Saturday afternoon, leaving at least three people dead. In its 5 p.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said "Chedeng" was 600 km northeast of Basco, Batanes, as of 4 p.m. “Chedeng" packed maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph, and was moving northeast at 32 kph. By Sunday morning, “Chedeng" is expected to be 870 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes, or at 150 km north of Okinawa, Japan. The typhoon left at least three people dead and P12.329 million in damage to property as it departed Philippine territory, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The NDRRMC said authorities are still determining if the death of a possible fourth fatality, who died in a cave-in in Benguet, was due to “Chedeng." Joey Marcos, 20, a small-scale miner, was trapped in a tunnel cave-in at Sitio Liwliw, Tuba, Benguet, on Friday noon, according to the NDRRMC’s 6 p.m. update. His body was retrieved at 7 a.m. Saturday, it said. The NDRRMC pointed out that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will look into whether the incident was related to the enhanced weather disturbance. The NDRRMC had earlier identified the other fatalities as:

• Jaime Torillos, 70 (Catanduanes);
• Emmanuel Macaro, 27 (Camarines Norte); and
• Mercedes Jose, 48 (Benguet).

As of 6 p.m. Saturday, “Chedeng" had affected 81,648 families or 396,341 people in 497 villages in 49 towns and seven cities in 10 provinces. Of these, 1,256 families or 5,820 people were evacuated to 31 evacuation centers. Some 56 houses were destroyed while 43 were damaged. Damage to property was estimated at P12,328,983, including P1.422 million in agriculture in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Rains over Luzon, Western Visayas Meanwhile, PAGASA said “Chedeng" enhances the southwest monsoon, bringing rains over Luzon and Western Visayas. “Luzon and Western Visayas will experience rains due to southwest monsoon. The rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms," it said. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and Western Visayas and coming from the southeast to southwest over the rest of the country, it added. PAGASA said coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough. Impassable roads The NDRRMC likewise said the Tawi Overflow Bridge in Penablanca, Cagayan is not passable to all types of vehicles. It added the Lucban Bridge in Brgy. Lucban, Abulug, Cagayan is not passable to heavy vehicles as per Department of Public Works and Highways’ recommendation. — JE, GMA News