NDCC: More than 40,000 families affected by typhoon 'Frank'

MANILA, Philippines At least 40,488 families or 200,055 people were affected in the wake of typhoon "Frank" (Fengshen), according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council. In its report dated 6 p.m. Saturday, the NDCC also said three persons were confirmed dead while four remain missing. The NDCC said that as of 6 p.m. Saturday, the "confirmed" fatalities were all from Cotabato City, while the missing were fishermen were from Getafe, Bohol. It identified the fatalities as Bea Pulalon, 8; her grandfather Nanding Pulalon, 56; and David Caballero, 28, of Alamada in Cotabato City. Bea and Nanding were victims of a "trash slide" at 9:30 Friday night in Canizares, Malagapas in Cotabato City, the NDCC said. NDCC said "Frank" affected 40,488 families or 200,055 people in 11 provinces in calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Regions 9 and 12, and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Some 3,755 families or 16,118 people were staying at 22 evacuation centers. The NDCC said "Frank" also affected 3,200 families or 16,000 persons in 45 villages in ARMM. It said 1,000 families or 5,000 persons in ARMM had been brought to evacuation centers. Also, NDCC said "Frank" had left stranded some 4,625 persons, 90 trucks, 48 small vehicles, 59 passenger buses, four vessels and 250 rolling cargos. Power supply was cut off to Odiongan in Romblon province while 106 houses were destroyed and 10 damaged in the Calabarzon region. Similarly, power supply to Capiz had been cut since 10 a.m. of Friday. In Iloilo City, heavy rains and strong winds caused power interruptions. NDCC said that in Central Visayas, Canlaon City still had no power as of 6 p.m. Saturday. The National Transmission Corp. (Transco) said Negros Island was 99 percent energized, while Leyte was only 40 percent energized and Samar only 5 percent energized. Bohol has been 10 percent energized, it said. It added that in Negros, the 69-kiliowatt Bacolod-Talisay-Silay transmission line tripped at 5 p.m. due to heavy rains. NDCC said it would provide rubber boats and relief operations in Iloilo City via C-130 Sunday morning to support ongoing search-and-rescue operations. - GMANews.TV