6 dead, 9 missing after ‘Ofel’

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'Ofel' is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the next 24 hours and all storm signals have been lifted

'Ofel' batters the coast of Bongabong, a 2nd class municipality in Oriental Mindoro. Photo from Facebook

(UPDATED) MANILA, Philippines – At least 6 people died and 9 are missing as a consequence of tropical storm “Ofel”, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Friday, October 26.

The fatalities include one person hit by a tree toppled by strong winds and another who was crushed in a landslide spawned by heavy rains, said NDRRMC chief Benito Ramos.

In its 8 am situation update, the NDRRMC noted that other fatalities were due to drowning and reported in Batangas, Cebu, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon.

Missing are 9 fishermen who ventured out to sea in separate parts of the Philippines between Monday and Wednesday, but Ramos said the authorities had not given up hope that some of them may be found alive.

“Maybe these guys just took refuge in small islands. They might emerge anytime. We can’t say they are dead. There is an effort to locate them,” he told AFP.

Ofel also caused flooding that derailed a train travelling through Sariaya, Quezon, leaving nine passengers injured.

La Mesa Dam in Quezon City, Metro Manila is on yellow alert but authorities believe the water will not go over the spilling level, while a total of 6 cities and municipalities are flooded and many more are suffering power interruptions.

Almost 40 flights were cancelled and classes suspended at various levels in Camarines Sur, Cebu, Albay and Oriental Mindoro.

Total damages to agriculture are now at P4.5 million, according to the NDRRMC.

In its 5 am bulletin, weather bureau PAGASA said that Ofel is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the next 24 hours and all storm signals have been lifted.

As of 4 am the tropical storm — with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h and gusts of up to 90 km/h– was located 320 km West of Iba, Zambales and by Saturday morning will be 790 km West of La Union and outside of the PAR. – Rappler.com, with reports from Agence France-Presse

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