7 dead in landslides, floods spawned by Ramil

MANILA, Philippines — Storm Ramil left seven people dead as it dumped heavy rains over Southern Tagalog and Bicol as it moved away from the country yesterday.

The storm caused floods and landslides in Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Albay and Batangas, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

It intensified into a storm yesterday as it moved westward over the West Philippine Sea.

As of 3 p.m. yesterday,  Ramil was spotted 425 kilometers west- northwest of Coron, Palawan.

It was forecast to move west at 17 kilometers per hour, packing winds of up to 80 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 95 kph.

In Busuanga, Palawan, three died while swimming in a river at Sitio Demnegan.

Grade 12 student Laiz Mayo, her cousins Catherine and Katherine Apolinario drifted toward the deeper portion of the river and drowned. Their bodies were later recovered by responding rescuers.

In San Juan, Batangas, two vacationers were also reported to have been pinned to death when a huge boulder loosened by a landslide rolled over their rented cottage.

In Cagayan, a seven-year-old boy drowned after being carried away by strong currents while crossing a creek in Barangay Aciga, Pinukpuk, Kalinga on All Saints’ Day. 

Senior Police Officer 4 Ruff Manganip, deputy chief of police of Pinukpuk, said Armand Valero was with his cousin Eden Mae Baggas when they were caught by rampaging waters at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.?Baggas was able to swim to shore while Valeros’ body was recovered along Saltan river yesterday.

In Camarines Sur, a man was buried alive in Sagñay town after his house was hit by a landslide early yesterday morning, police said.

Felipe Olaño, 85, was sleeping inside his house with Ryan Lascariñas in Barangay Sibaguan when he heard the earth move at about 3:20 a.m., forcing him to flee, Senior Insp. Malou Calubaquib said.

His companion Lascariñas was not able to escape. Three others were injured in the incident.

Rescued

Also in Palawan, a passenger boat with three crewmembers and six Chinese tourists capsized off Puerto Galera at noon last Wednesday due to rough waters and strong winds.

Divers rescued Fel Coa, 23; Juan Juan Shi, 34; Rong Jun Wang, 34; Jio Lo Sai, 40; Xi Min Yu, 61 and Xing Eng Zho, 40.

The crewmen of the M/B King Jonel, owned by  a certain Jun Jun Mendoza, were also rescued, Cabrera said.

Palawan Director Eugene Cabrera, regional head of the Office of Civil Defense in Mimaropa,  reported widespread flooding in the province that resulted in the cancellation of classes yesterday in Calapan City, Naujan, Puerto Galera, Pola, Baco, Pinamalayan, all in Oriental Mindoro and in Marinduque.

Heavy rains also triggered landslide along a road in Calatrava, Romblon last Wednesday. The road was cleared and reopened to traffic yesterday.

Even as the weather was improving, floodwaters were monitored in the villages of Socorro, Calapan City,  Pinamalayan, Bongabong, and Baco in Mindoro Oriental.

Cabrera said only a handful of families were evacuated.

He said sea travel to and from Mimaropa region was suspended the other day by the Philippine Coast Guard but resumed early yesterday morning.

Heavy rains also triggered widespread flooding in Laguna and Quezon.

PAGASA said moderate to occasional heavy rains will prevail today over the Cordilleras, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon due to the interaction between Ramil and the northeast monsoon.

Residents are still warned against landslides and flashfloods.  – With Rhodina Villanueva, Celso Amo, Raymund Catindig