NDRRMC: 1 dead, over 6K people stranded due to cyclone 'Ramon'

At least one person was reported dead while 6,245 people were stranded in the wake of tropical cyclone Ramon (Banyan), which caused floods and landslides in parts of Visayas and Mindanao. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also said one fisherman from Cabiran, Palo, Leyte was reported missing since 6 a.m. Wednesday. In its 1 p.m. report, the NDRRMC also said 78 percent of President Roxas in Capiz is flooded with water level "estimated at 1.9 meters deep." President Roxas National Highway is impassable to light vehicles, it said. The NDRRMC named the fatality as Daryll Gales, 20, of Barangay Manila de Bugabus in Sta. Cruz, Butuan City: Gales was buried alive while conducting small-scale mining, it said. On the other hand, the NDRRMC said consolidated reports from the Coast Guard showed 6,245 passengers were stranded. Also stranded were 269 trucks, 27 cars, 51 buses, 304 rolling cargoes, 80 vessels, and 31 motor bancas. The NDRRMC said Ramon has so far affected 373 families or 1,700 people in nine villages in six towns and two cities in Cebu, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato, and Dinagat Island. In Eastern Visayas, big waves damaged three houses along the shoreline in Caibiran, Biliran, while a landslide hit Brgy. Dampoy, Sogod, Southern Leyte and rendered the Sogod-Mahaplag Road impassable. Landslides also occurred in Brgys. Pancho Villa, Kahupian and Olisihan in Sogod, Leyte, rendering roads there impassable. Meanwhile, Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado said there was no initial report of casualty in his province, where Ramon made landfall Wednesday morning. As of Wednesday noon, Mercado said the winds had subsided while there was little rain, although there was heavy rain Tuesday night. "We thank God there was no report of casualties. There was a landslide in Sogod but the area is open to traffic again," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. NDRRMC head Benito Ramos credited residents in vulnerable areas for their cooperation in preemptive evacuation. "They have learned their lesson and are now cooperating in preemptive evacuation. They are even volunteering," he said in a separate interview on dzBB. — LBG, GMA News