At least 29 reported dead in northern Philippines from strong typhoon: official

September 16, 2018

At least 29 persons died due to Typhoon Ompong with 20 of these in the Cordillera Region, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Sec. Francis Tolentino said Sunday.

"I already expressed my condolence on your behalf (President Rodrigo Duterte) to the loved ones of the casualties... There are around 29 ( casualties),' said Tolentino in a televised meeting with Duterte and some Cabinet members in Tuguegarao.

"We are still looking for 13 people in the Cordillera," added Tolentino.

Duterte said :" I share the grief of those who have lost their loved ones. These are what we call unforseen events."

Tolentino said the 25 casualties came from Sta Lucia, Ilocos Sur; Nueva Vizcaya, and Cordillera Autonomous Region.

"Unfortunately, we have 25 casualties as we speak right now. One from Sta Lucia, Ilocos Sur, an accidental death caused by the cutting of the branches of a mango tree. Four in Nueva Vizcaya, a family, also because of landslide for failure of the some members of the family to go straight to the evacuation center. And 20 from the Cordillera (Region) to include six from Baguio," Tolentino said in a radio interview.

He added two persons in Cordillera Administrative Region are still missing.

"Our search and rescue operations are ongoing together with clearing operations but most of the highways are passable here in Cagayan except for the mountainous areas of Cordillera," he said.

He said some roads in Baguio City are still not passable due to slanted electrical posts.

Malacang on Sunday apologized to the public for the casualties caused by the typhoon.

"We're sorry there are casualties reported in some parts of the Philippines," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

As of 6am, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said a total of 63, 769 families or 250, 036 persons were affected in 1, 403 barangays in Region I, II, III, National Capital Region, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and Cordillera Autonomous Region.

A total of 34, 169 families or 133, 457 individuals are being served in 1, 190 evacuation centers.

Cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure have yet to determine.

According to the weather bureau, Ompong left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday evening. Ella Dionisio/DMS