At least 7 dead in Lanao del Sur floods

December 22, 2017

At least seven persons were reported dead and four missing as floods struck three towns in Lanao del Sur due to Tropical Storm "Vinta", the provincial information office said Friday.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said four died in the municipality of Madalum, two in the municipality of Wato-Balindong and one in the municipality of Tugaya.

Though "Vinta" weakened into a tropical depression when it made landfall early Thursday, Lanao del Sur Bedjoria Soraya Alonto Adiong "instructed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to conduct rescue operations and collect all the necessary reports per municipality pertaining to the number of properties damaged and destroyed, number of people missing and dead and families displaced."

As of 8 pm, "Vinta" was over Zamboanga Sibugay and was moving towards Sulu Sea. It was packing winds of 60 kph and gusts of 90 kph. It was moving west at 20 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). DMS