Cyclone 'Basyang' death toll now at 38, NDCC says

The death toll from tropical cyclone "Basyang" (Conson) continued to climb, hitting 38 as of Friday morning, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said. In its 6 a.m. report, the NDCC said 38 have been confirmed dead while 47 remained missing and 18 were reported injured. Of the 38 fatalities, 13 were from Bataan, 21 from Southern Luzon, and four from Bicol region. Among the latest fatalities was Edwin Ledesma, captain of the tanker "Deborah Uno" that sank off Mariveles town in Bataan. The missing included one in Central Luzon, eight in Southern Luzon, 37 in Bicol, and one in Western Visayas. At least 30,644 families or 153,426 people were affected in 411 villages in nine cities and 63 towns in 12 provinces in Central and Southern Luzon, Metro Manila and Bicol. Some 1,757 families or 8,918 people remained in 51 evacuation centers as of Friday morning, the NDCC said. The NDCC said at least 2,591 houses were destroyed while 16,067 houses were damaged. Damage to agriculture, infrastructure, fisheries and schools in Southern Luzon, Bicol and Metro Manila was estimated at P147.556 million. Some 71,724 metric tons of vegetables worth P1.398 million was lost from 207 hectares in Laguna. — LBG, GMANews.TV