TYPHOON JUANING: Death Toll is 21 (Bicol Mail)

TYPHOON JUANING
Death toll rises to 21
By Mar S. Arguelles

LEGAZPI CITY — The death toll rises to 21, while five people are still missing as Tropical Storm Juaning left the Bicol peninsula, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reported yesterday, July 27.

Director Bernardo Alejandro of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and chairperson of the RDRRMC said that the fatalities were buried by landslides, electrocuted, drowned, or hit by fallen trees and electric posts.

He said Albay recorded the biggest casualties with nine deaths, followed by Camarines Norte with five, five from Catanduanes and two from Camarines Sur.

The victims were identified as Noel Angeles, 49 of Viga town; Rolando Angulo,45, Bagamanoc; Sanito Diones Timato,49, of Viga; and Rey Vergara, 39, of Virac, and Rickson Isla, 30, of Panganiban, all in Catanduanes;

Josh, 4, Nichole and Bernard all surnamed Corteza from Polangui, Felix Berta Dacuba Clet, 74, Tiwi, Roque Sapico, 23, Tabaco City,Estring Leonisa, 76 of Libon, Rico Llamera, 33 of Daraga, Demetrio and Jr. Warde surnamed Nace from Pioduran, all in Albay.

Armando Molto, 28 of Tinambac, Camarines Sur and Nino Mora, 29, of Bato, Camarines Sur,

Edgar Ineta, one year and 6 months old, and Mariane, 18, Richard, 25, Ofelia, 56, and Alfredo, 63, all surnamed Casero, all of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte.

Reported missing were Romeo Robles, 39, and Romeo Balanban, 37, both fishermen from Baras, Catanduanes; Salvador Dungaran Jr. 23, Emer Abas,27, and Elmer Balmaceda, 34, all fishermen from Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

Floodings in various parts of Albay and Camarines Sur have subsided as of Wednesday, Bernardo said.

Landslides were reported in the towns of Jose Panganiban in Camarines Norte, Buhi and Balatan in Camarines Sur, Polangui, Albay and Caramoran, Catanduanes.

The Albay Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said that 107,938 families were affected by the latest tropical storm which brought about heavy rains and strong winds that triggered landslides, floods, and lahar flow.

As the weather normalizes the PDRRMC began Wednesday the decampment of 27,018 families or 104,013 people housed in various evacuation camps across Albay province.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the no sailing order which remains in effect stranded 800 passengers, 14 trucks, 4 cars, 5 passenger buses, 18 sea vessels and 18 motor bancas in various major ports in Bicol.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), meanwhile, said all major highways going to Metro Manila are now passable to both heavy and light vehicles.

Air travel from Manila to Legazpi and vice versa resumed Wednesday morning.

All classes in private and public elementary and high schools in Albay remain suspended until further notice.