kill 21, hurt 14 as ‘Pedring’ exits country; ‘Quiel’ approaching
By ELENA L. ABEN * AP
MANILA, Philippines – Emergency services and residents in Metro Manila cleaned up and restored electricity yesterday after Typhoon “Pedring” unleashed floodwaters and fierce winds that killed at least 21 people, injured 14, and sent huge waves crashing over seawalls.
Most deaths occurred in and around the metropolis, which already was soaked by heavy monsoon rains ahead of Tuesday’s arrival of Pedring, which brought more downpours and wind gusts of up to 150 kilometers per hour.
As of this writing, 35 people remain missing, and 108 were rescued from Pedring’s wrath, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos said while Pedring moved away from the country, they remain on alert for another tropical storm, locally named “Quiel”, expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility.
Ramos said they are also continuously monitoring the situation of the affected population numbering 53,273 families or 171,570 people from 349 barangays in 78 towns and 17 cities in 22 provinces and Metro Manila.
Of the total affected population in the typhoon affected areas, 9,826 families or 47,709 people are temporarily housed in evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, latest data released by the NDRRMC showed most of the 21 fatalities were either hit by a collapsed wall, a fallen tree, or other falling debris blown away by the strong winds brought by Pedring. Among those killed were eight children.
As of press time, the NDRRMC said 35 people remain missing, including 28 fishermen who sailed to sea in spite of repeated warnings and appeals issued by authorities.
Ramos said 61 road sections in regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, NCR, and CAR remained impassable due to various incidents, including floodings, landslides, mudflows, and fallen debris.
At least 993 houses were destroyed and 3,950 were damaged.
The NDRRMC further said initial cost of damage caused was estimated at P984.901 million, with R912,292,705.69 in agriculture and P72,609,250 in infrastructure.
Pedring blew out of the Philippines, packing winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) and was expected to make landfall on China’s Hainan Island tonight or early tomorrow.
POWER RESTORED
Power supply was gradually restored to the downtown area, which was strewn with trash and fallen bamboo pieces washed ashore by storm surges. The Metro Rail Transit also resumed operations.
Some areas were still flooded, including Manila Ocean Park facing Manila Bay and a major thoroughfare, Taft Avenue. The nearby United States embassy, which was inundated Tuesday, remained closed.
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) disclosed that 97.4 percent of the 698 circuits in Metro Manila affected Tuesday during the onslaught of typhoon Pedring were restored yesterday.
In an update posted in its twitter account, which could be viewed at http://twitter.com/#!/meralco, Meralco disclosed that only 18 circuits in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces damaged during the height of typhoon remained without power.
It added that 97.4 percent of the 698 circuits affected by the weather disturbance were restored as of 6 a.m. yesterday.
Meralco, at the same time, apologized to its customers whose houses remain without power. It assured them it was doing its best to bring electricity back in their areas.
Meralco said customers who have complaints may dial 16-211 and their text lines via 09175516211/09209292824/09209716211. (Francis T. Wakefield)
CLASSES RESUME
The Department of Education (DepEd) announced that classes in Metro Manila resumed yesterday but remained suspended in areas heavily affected by the typhoon.
Based on the summary of classes released, DepEd said classes in the National Capital Region (NCR) in the divisions where schools are used as evacuation centers remained suspended, including Malabon in pre-school, elementary and high school in both in public and private schools; Marikina, both in public and private pre-schools, elementary and high schools; Navotas in both public and private preschool, elementary and high schools; in Valenzuela from pre-school to elementary, including Pio Valenzuela Elementary School (ES), Caloong ES, Pasolo ES, Tagalag ES, Rincon ES, Wawang Pulo ES, A. Fernando ES, Isla ES, and Polo High School (HS) and Arkong Bato HS.
Classes in Quezon City (Bagong Silangan ES), Muntinlupa (Sucat ES and Cupang ES), and Manila (P. Guevarra ES) were also suspended. These schools served as evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, Region 1l Director Ligaya Miguel said classes in the entire region remained suspended since the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised signal warning to number 3.
In Region 2, classes also resumed except in Nueva Vizcaya.
In Region 3, classes would remain suspended in Bulacan while in Region 4-A, classes would remain suspended in all public elementary and high schools in San Mateo, Antipolo, Rodriguez, and Cainta in Rizal.
DepEd reminded local government units (LGUs), local DepEd officials or school heads thay they culd declare automatic suspension of classes based on storm signals raised in other areas not mentioned. (Ina Hernando-Malipot)
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BAGUIO
Two children died, three others were reportedly injured while one person was missing as Pedring pounded most parts of the Cordillera Tuesday.
Based on a report from the Cordillera office of Civil Defense (OCD), the fatalities were identified as Ryan Nangligan, 14, and Angeline Gano, 8, both of Barangay Umalbong, Hingyon, Ifugao. They were reportedly buried along with their house by a landslide.
A certain Nardo Galacio, 45, companion of the victims, was reportedly injured during the landslide. Rescuers saved him. (Dexter A. See)
VALENZUELA
Four people, including three children, died when a concrete wall collapsed on them in Valenzuela City yesterday morning, a ranking police official said.
Police Director Alan Purisima, chief of the National Capital Region POlice Office (NCRPO), said the four were killed due to serious injuries they suffered as a result of the accident in Barangay Mapulang Lupa, Valenzuela. (Aaron Recuenco)
BULACAN
MALOLOS CITY – Three girls were killed Tuesday when hit by fallen trees as strong winds swirled through many parts of the province of Bulacan.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) identified the fatalities as Joselle May Basco, 1; Gloria May Jose, 11, both residents Barangay Poblacion, Sta. Maria town; and Rica Mae Catitay, 6, of Feliciano Subdivision, Barangay Muzon, San Jose del Monte City.
Basco and Jose were inside the house when strong winds uprooted a mango tree that fell down on the house, damaging the house and and pinning the victims in the process, the PDRRMO report said.
A big mango tree also crashed on a house of a six-year-old Catitay. Five other members of the family were injured.
Catitay died while being taken to the Sapang Palay General Hospital while the five injured are still undergoing medical management at the hospital, the PDRRMO said. (PNA & Freddie C. Velez)
BATAAN
BALANGA CITY (PNA) – Governor Enrique “Tet” Garcia miraculously cheated death when his vehicle was hit by a big acacia tree on the Roman Superhighway here.
The governor did not suffer any scratch. But his driver, Efren Pascual, suffered head and body injuries. He was in critical condition and remained unconscious at the Bataan General Hospital in this city.
Garcia said he had just inspected Bataan’s first district to assess the typhoon damage and was proceeding to the second district when, at a split second, the big tree fell on their vehicle.
The governor’s eight-year old E-150 Ford van was badly damaged. (PNA)