4 fishermen die in Quezon cyclone

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – A boat captain and his three crewmen were reportedly confirmed dead while two others were injured and nine were suspected missing when their motorboat was hit by a tornado while it was docked in Barangay Sanguirin, Perez, Quezon at midnight yesterday.

Calabarzon regional director Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad, chairman, Regional Disaster Coordinating Council, identified the fatalities as Captain Roberto Longaza, and his men - Ruben Rajas, Boyet Drias, Ryan Brogada. All were declared dead on the spot.

The injured, Paquito Pedrigal, 53 years old and Raniel Pedrigal, 26, were brought to the nearest provincial hospital in Perez town.

Police Inspector Insan Ylamas said the tornado occurred at around 11-12 a.m. at the height of typhoon Feria’s fury hitting M/B Annabel owned and operated by Bonifacio Roho, while the victims were inside the boat which docked at the seashore of Sitio Pinagbayanan.

Palad said some barangay personnel and two cops PO1 Jerwin Verzo and PO1 Jonnel Anda responded and conducted a search and rescue operation for the missing persons.

The RDCC team is now closely monitoring the situation and preparing assistance for the victims.

Additionally, in Batangas, nine barangays were affected – Poblacion 1, 2, 3, and 4, Aplaya, Sto. Domingo, San Andres Uno, San Andres proper, Algao due to heavy rains and wind accompanied by a hailstorm which occurred in the municipalities of Bauan and San Pascual.

According to Vicente Tomazar, RDCC regional director, most of the major electrical posts were toppled by strong winds while power failure still prevail in Bauan and San Pascual although flood in the area is now sub­siding. Tomazar said hundreds of passengers and more than 160 rolling cargoes and at least 40 vessels were stranded in Batangas, Lucena, Calapan, Romblon and Calapan ports. He told The STAR, tropical storm Feria is now moving toward the Batangas – Mindoro area.

Meanwhile, a four-year-old child was reported missing in Sitio Agbunyog, Concepcion Sur, Sta Maria, Romblon due to flooding. – With Michelle Zoleta, Arnell Ozaeta