12 fishermen rescued, but 5 others still missing amid Jolina — NDRRMC

The 12 fishermen initially reported missing in Catbalogan City have been rescued but five others are still missing in Eastern Visayas amid the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Jolina, a disaster official said Wednesday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad said search and rescue operations are ongoing.

“Meron pang pinaghahanap na limang mangingisda (Five fishermen are still being searched for),” he said.

Jalad said the 12 fishermen were rescued in Santo Niño, Samar.

He urged the public to listen to the advisories of the NDRRMC and local government regarding the weather disturbance.

According to him, intense rains are still expected over Mimaropa, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.

As of 1 p.m., state weather bureau PAGASA said Jolina was located in the vicinity of San Nicolas, Batangas with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

It was moving northwestward at 15 kph.

Jolina is expected to make another landfall in the vicinity of the Bataan Peninsula.

It is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday night or early Friday morning.

Aside from Jolina, PAGASA is also monitoring Typhoon Kiko (international name: Chanthu), which is located 1,120 km east of Central Luzon as of 10 a.m. — RSJ, GMA News