‘Quinta’ leaves 7 dead, 2 missing

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical depression “Quinta” weakened into a low-pressure area yesterday after battering several areas in Luzon and the Visayas, leaving at least seven people dead and two others missing.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the low-pressure area was spotted at 220 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

PAGASA lifted all public storm warning signals in areas affected by Quinta (international name Wukong), the 17th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

The toll from the latest storm was relatively low as the public, alarmed by the huge number of fatalities left by typhoon “Pablo,” were quick to take precautionary measures, disaster officials said.

Three people were killed when a tree fell on their home in Maydolong, Eastern Samar. They were identified as Rodrigo Busa, 56; Rosita, 50, and Kimjie, seven years old.

The four other fatalities came from the province of Iloilo where widespread flooding due to heavy rains dumped by storm Quinta in Panay island also forced 1,915 families to evacuate.

Officials identified three of the fatalities as Warlito Lutero of Barangay Tuburan; Erlinda Almorante of Barangay Anglobong and Arnulfo Bayotas of Barangay Lico-an, all from the town of Barotac Nuevo.

The military added Jomari Pormilos, 32, of Barangay Alibidhan, Bingawan town drowned after he and his motorcycle were swept by floodwaters while crossing an overflow bridge in Barangay Switch in the area.

Office of Civil Defense Western Visayas director Rosario Cabrera said they are still confirming reports that wide areas of Capiz province also experienced severe flooding with at least 17 towns under water.

Over in Antique and Aklan, several river channels overflowed but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

“We don’t have the reports yet but we will have to check reports that Kalibo, Malinao, Madalag in Aklan were among the areas heavily affected by the flooding,” Cabrera said.

The NDRRMC said they are searching for Mario Austria, 55, of Talisay, Batangas and Julio Noya Silvano, 36, of Barangay Macario, Merida town in Leyte who were reported missing after being swept away by the flashfloods that hit their respective villages.

The heavy rains brought by Quinta also affected the Bicol region, forcing some ,525 families or 13,130 people from the towns of Polangui, Jovellar, Camalig, Malinao and Bacacay to move out.

Ramos stressed that despite the 30 monitored storm-related incidents, the havoc left by Quinta is no match compared to the massive destruction left by typhoon Pablo that raked across the Davao region and the Visayas early this month.

While Quinta is now monitored heading towards the West Philippine Sea, the prevailing weather system it brought has altered seaport operations in the Visayas and in Southern Tagalog, leaving thousands of travelers stranded.

As of yesterday, NDRRMC reported there are still 892 passengers and 17 rolling cargoes left stranded in Calapan port in Oriental Mindanao; 85 passengers and 16 rolling cargoes in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; 13 passengers and one vessel in Balanacan port in

Marinduque, while those stranded in the ports of Hindang, Bato, Liloan, Benit and Balwarteco, Allen, all in Northern Samar, have returned to their homes or have temporarily sought refuge with relatives and friends.

In Dangay port, Roxas Oriental, roll-on-roll-off commuters bound for Boracay and other provinces of Panay island, to include 1,720 passengers, 39 trucks and six private vehicles, are still waiting inside the port, while 61 trucks are stranded outside the port compound.

Over in Romblon, 20 rolling cargoes and one vessel with scores of passengers bound for Batangas are still waiting for the green light to resume sea travel that was suspended on Christmas Day.

Another vessel was also not allowed to sail from Cuyo island to Puerto Princesa City since of Christmas Day because of big waves and strong winds brought by Quinta.

Ramos said the suspension of port operations was in line with the ongoing pre-emptive measures being implemented by NDRRMC to prevent sea-based disasters during typhoons.

“The worse is over because Quinta, now only a low-pressure area, is 220 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa. Tonight (last night) the storm is expected to be already out of the Philippine area of responsibility,” Ramos said.

In the aftermath of the storm, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel Roxas II told the agency step up its efforts to coordinate the delivery of government services in the affected areas.

Roxas ordered DILG Undersecretaries Rafael Antonio Santos and Austere Panadero to continue to assess the damage left by the storm.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya also sent word to send additional search and rescue support from the Philippine Coast Guard. –With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Celso Amo, Cet Dematera, Ben Serrano, AP