2 people feared dead amid flooding, rains in Antique

Disaster management officials in Antique province in central Philippines reported that two people may have already perished because of the heavy rains and flashfloods that have ravaged scores of villages. Boyet Traim of Antique's Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) told dzBB radio that it has received unconfirmed reports of the two deaths in Sitio Kamunsilan in Barbosa town near the border of Capiz and Aklan. Their identities were not immediately known, but the PDCC said they were elderly folk whose bodies have not been recovered. Hypothermia was feared to be a possible cause of death. The floodwaters have already swamped 21 of the Barbosa's 39 villages. As this developed, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Camp Aguinaldo reported that the number of stranded travellers at ports and terminals in Bicol and Samar has swelled to over 3,400 people. A total of 274 vehicles, meanwhile, were also unable to travel. State weather forecasters hoised Wednesday morning storm signal number 3 over five Bicol provinces, the entire Samar Island and two island groups as tropical storm Milyeno (Xangsane) intensified into a typhoon. On the roof Barbasa residents were already on top of their homes' roof as of posting time, radio reports said. Antique Gov. Salvacion Perez has asked the Philippine Air Force to dispatch rescue helicopters to airlift some 100 villagers, but the request was turned down because of turbulent weather. Earlier reports said badly hit by the flashfloods was Antonio village in Barbosa, a fifth class municipaltiy in the province. Rescuers could not use pumpboats to get to them because the current was too strong, Traim said. He added, however, that at least 60 residents have been evacuated. Flashfloods swamped Barbasa after the Dalanas River overflowed amid continued heavy rains during the past days, PDCC officials said. They also noted that the high tide which came with the heavy rains may have helped pull the waters to alarming levels. Signal No. 3 The NDCC said it has disseminated warning orders to the provincial disaster coordinating council of the regions under storm signal number 1, 2 and 3 to initiate preparedness measures in order for them to effectively respond to emergencies brought by the weather disturbance. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has raised public storm signal number 3 in the provinces of Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Albay, Ticao Islands, Burias Islands and the Samar provinces. Areas under public storm signal number 2 are Camarines Norte, Southern Quezon, Leyte and Biliran Island while areas under public storm signal number 1 are the rest of Quezon province, Polillo Island, the provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Southern Leyte, Camotes Island, Northern Cebu, Aklan, Capiz, Dinagat Islands and Siargao Islands. NDCC also ordered the disaster coordinating councils to advise the residents living along the coastal areas, river banks, high steep slopes to be alert for possible storm surge, flashflood and landslides. Anthony Rolando Glodez, NDCC officer-in-charge, said they have coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard-Bicol District to help the stranded passengers. NDCC records showed 992 passengers were stranded in Looc and Dapdap, Allen, Northern Samar; Liloan, Southern Leyte and Ormoc City; and 2,408 in Bapor, Masbate; Pioduran, Albay; Virac; Matnog and Pilar, Sorsogon; and Tabaco, Albay. Also, 79 buses, 115 trucks, 61 light cars, 11 vessels and eight motorbancas were prevented from leaving the terminals.-GMANews.TV