3 dead, 6 missing hours before Urduja's landfall

MANILA, Philippines — Three persons were reported dead while six were missing in Visayas hours before Tropical Storm Urduja make a landfall on Saturday afternoon.

This was according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Director and Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, who held a press conference at 11 a.m.

Citing initial reports that are yet to be validated, Jalad said three persons were reported dead as "Urduja" hits central Philippines.

Among the casualties were a two-year-old who had drowned at flood waters in Leyte province, a landslide victim in Biliran, and a fisherman from Southern Leyte.

Of the six people reported missing, Jalad said three of them were fishermen from Eastern Samar while another three were local residents battered by landslides in Biliran.

Four locals were injured in separate landslide incidents in Biliran and Tacloban, Jalad said.

Meanwhile, power outages due to the tropical storm's strong winds were reported in Eastern Samar.

Urduja made landfall in the vicinity of San Policarpio in Eastern Samar at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

A total of 11,101 passengers were stranded in some of the country’s ports amid risks posed by sea travel due to "Urduja," according to the Philippine Coast Guard.