Dante reenters PAR; death toll rises to 6

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll due to Tropical Depression Dante (international name Choi-wan) rose to six yesterday, with two other persons injured while three remain missing.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed Batanes under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 yesterday after Dante reentered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) at 4 p.m.

The weather disturbance exited PAR earlier in the day.

PAGASA said the weather disturbance was forecast to move northeast and make a close approach or landfall in the vicinity of southern Taiwan last night.

Dante will continue moving northeast toward the East China Sea and leave PAR this afternoon.

It was last spotted 210 kilometers west-northwest of Basco or 185 kms west of Itbayat, packing winds of 55 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

Dante was projected to move northeast at 20 kph.

The state weather bureau warned the public against rough seas over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon.

”Sea travel is risky for small seacraft over these waters,” it said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said among the fatalities due to Dante are a 49-year-old man from Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, whose vehicle was swept away by a flashflood; a 51-year-old man from Dumanjug, Cebu, who was swept away by floodwaters as he attempted to bring his water buffalo to safety, and a one-year-old boy from Panoraon, Davao de Oro.

A 71-year-old man from Malalag, Davao del Sur and a 14-year-old girl and 55-year-old man, both from Norala, South Cotabato, drowned.

The NDRRMC said a 14-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman from Barangay Macangao, Lupon, Davao Oriental were injured.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing for two boys, aged seven and two, who were reportedly swept away by floodwaters in Calubian, Leyte and a man in his 40s in Maco, Davao de Oro.

P63.6 million agri damage

Damage to agriculture was estimated at P63.6 million as of 5 p.m. on Thursday, data from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Operation Center showed.

The DA said 1,780 farmers were affected, with production loss at 2,309 metric tons. At least 2,623 hectares of agricultural areas in Western Visayas, Davao Soccsksargen, South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos and Caraga were affected.

Rice accounted for 93.3 percent of the damage or 2,256 hectares with a volume loss of 2,172 MT valued at P59.4 million.

Corn accounted for 4.1 percent of the damage or 192 hectares, with a volume loss of 94 MT valued at P2.6 million. Damage to high-value crops was placed at P1.7 million.

The DA said it is offering assistance to farmers and fisherfolk affected by the typhoon. –  Catherine Talavera