Tropical depression “Usman” weakened into a low pressure area after making landfall over Borongan, Eastern Samar yesterday morning.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said Usman made landfall around 6 a.m. and estimated the location of the LPA at 60 kilometers east of Romblon, Romblon around 3 p.m.
PAGASA lifted all tropical cyclone warnings as Usman weakened into an LPA.
However, PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains will prevail over Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and northern Palawan due to the LPA and tail-end of a cold front.
Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will persist over Metro Manila, Visayas, and the rest of Palawan.
Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Abra will have light to moderate to at times heavy rains due to the prevailing northeast monsoon or “amihan.”
Mindanao will have isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA warned the public to be alert against possible flooding and landslides over low-lying and mountainous areas.
Meanwhile, four people were killed when their houses were buried by landslides triggered by Usman in the Bicol region.
A police report reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City stated that three of the victims were residents of Purok 2 in Barangay San Francisco, Legazpi City yesterday.
At least a dozen people were staying inside their house when it was hit by a landslide at around 1:30 a.m. Ten survived and only sustained minor injuries.
The bodies of the victims, three-year-old Marco Alegre, 20-year-old Mia Lorete, and 26-year old Mauro Alegre, were retrieved during a search and rescue operation three hours after the incident.
The fourth victim was identified as 91-year-old Angelina Gerona, of Barangay Palale in Bulan, Sorsogon, who was killed at around 8:30 a.m. Friday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said almost 1,000 families composed of nearly 4,000 persons in 22 barangays in the Bicol region were affected by the weather disturbance.
Almost 20,000 passengers were stranded. They were allowed to travel after Usman dissipated into an LPA. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz with reports from Aaron B. Recuenco)