Quinta death toll rises to 9

MANILA, Philippines — The number of deaths due to Typhoon Quinta rose to nine yesterday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In its report yesterday, the NDRRMC said seven died in Mimaropa, three of them victims of drowning – a mother and her baby in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro and a man in Mogpog, Marinduque.

A man and a woman died when a tree fell on their house in Oriental Mindoro and El Nido, Palawan, respectively.

A man drowned while another died after he was hit by a fallen tree, both in Odiongan, Romblon.

The NDRRMC did not give details on the two other fatalities.

Six persons were reported injured while two remain missing.

A separate report from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said five persons drowned while six fishermen remain missing in Bicol.

OCD-Bicol director Claudio Yucot identified the fatalities as Romeo Torillos Sr., 44, and  his son Romeo Jr., 19; Luisito Tallada, 15, all residents of Gigmoto, Catanduanes; Rojan Kaiser Eustaqio, 3, of Bacacay, Albay, and Ruivic Quinito, 33, of Daet, Camarines Norte.

Yucot said 15 persons were injured.

As of yesterday, heavy rains spawned by the typhoon affected 209,457 residents in 787 barangays in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas.

The NDRRMC said 48,417 residents remain in 704 evacuation centers. At least 2,357 families are being served outside evacuation facilities.

Agriculture, infrastructure damage

The NDRRMC said initial damage to agriculture and infrastructure was estimated at P429.7 million.

Calabarzon alone incurred P349.2 million in damage.

Damage to infrastructure and agriculture in Bicol was pegged at P688.7 million.

A fishkill due to the typhoon affected 20,000 kilos of tilapia worth P2.1 million in Camarines Sur’s Buhi Lake.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said clearing operations in 15 national roads in the Cordilleras, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Northern Mindanao were ongoing as of yesterday.

The NDRRMC said some 40 road sections and five bridges remain impassable due to flooding, landslides and soil erosion.

Initial damage to national roads and bridges was placed at P58 million.

Meanwhile, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas urged the Departments of Agriculture and Social Welfare and Development to provide P10,000 in cash assistance to farmers and fishermen affected by the typhoon. – Cet Dematera, Ding Cervantes, Jose Rodel Clapano