'Mina' death toll rises to 17; 4 others still missing

The death toll from tropical storm "Mina" (international name: Mitag) has risen from 12 to 17 according to a report by the National Disaster Coordinating Council as of 6 p.m., Tuesday. Of the 17 dead, seven were from Camarines Sur, one from Camarines Norte, three from Palawan, one each from Cagayan and Isabela, and two each from Apayao and Kalinga. The victims included Juanito Bulseco, 65, of Solana in Cagayan, and Eduardo Lugo, 58, of Isabela, who drowned. Also killed were Tunan Ambajane, 8, Astang Ipit, 5, and Efren Roluna, 51, of Palawan. Also, the NDCC said four people were missing, including two Air Force officers on board a S-211 reconnaissance plane conducting maritime patrol over Spratlys Island last Monday morning. Of the missing, one was from Apayao, two were from Palawan and one was from Cagayan. "Mina" also left behind P210.825 million in damage to school buildings, and P162.017 million in damage to infrastructure. Meanwhile, damage to agriculture stood at P109.648 million with "Mina" and tropical depression "Lando" combined. At least 118,712 families or 540,305 persons from 1,169 barangays in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas were affected by "Mina." Of the said figure, 12,164 families or 56,354 persons are staying in at least 129 evacuation centers according to the NDCC. The NDCC said "Mina" has so far destroyed 114 houses in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Bicol, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. About 2,533 other houses in the same regions have been damaged. - GMANews.TV