Storm 'Isang' leaves four people dead, 1 missing

MANILA, Philippines — The number of people confirmed to have died in floods caused by tropical storm “Isang" (international code name: Molave) rose to four Saturday after officials said one of two people earlier reported missing was found. A report aired over Q’s Balitanghali said the body of Arnold Julian, 9, was recovered in Rizal province at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Julian fell into a manhole in Barangay Silangan in San Mateo, Rizal on Friday, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) earlier reported. After a 24-hour-search, fishermen Edwardo Leal and Roberto Benedicto found Julian's body floating by a creek in Barangay Banaba, San Mateo, said the report. The NDCC identified two other fatalities as Joemar Ligar, 13, of North Barangay 160 in Caloocan City, and Lomer Fernando, 32, of Barangay 12, Palpalicong, Batac, Ilocos Norte. According to the NDCC, Ligar drowned when the Tullahan River overflowed. It said Fernando was electrocuted in a flooded residence. Another victim named Jonathan Hormeneta, 22, slipped while crossing a bridge in Imus, Cavite, and has remained missing. Not included in the NDCC report was a nine-month old baby, who, radio reports said, drowned when flood inundated their home in La Paz town of Iloilo province in the central Philippines. The baby was believed to have fallen off her bed while the whole family was sleeping Thursday night. NDCC said floods sent a total of 94,856 individuals or 25,555 families from the Ilocos region, Southern Luzon and Metro Manila fleeing to higher grounds. Chief weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz said Isang dumped up to 20 inches (500 millimeters) of rain in the northern province of Ilocos Norte and more than 4 inches (100 millimeters) in Metro Manila over a 24-hour period that ended Friday. The flooding also forced authorities to suspend classes and work in all government agencies in the capital Friday, and the Philippine Stock Exchange suspended trading after the central bank halted operations. In its 10 a.m. typhoon update Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “Isang" was moving toward Hong Kong and southern China, with winds whipping at 59 miles per hour (95 kilometers per hour) and gusts of up to 75 mph (120 kph). Even as the storm moved farther away on Saturday, the Pagasa said Metro Manila and most of Luzon were expected to continue experiencing rains until Sunday due to the southwest monsoon. Pagasa warned residents living in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under storm warning signals against possible flashfloods and landslides. The storm was the ninth to hit the country this year. The archipelago is battered by about 20 storms and typhoons a year. - GMANews.TV, with a report from AP