3 dead, 10 injured in Masbate due to Opong

Three people were confirmed dead while 10 were injured in Masbate where Severe Tropical Storm Opong made a second landfall.

GTV's Balitanghali reported Friday that according to the Masbate Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, two of the fatalities were from Masbate City with one of them was hit by a falling tree while the other one hit by a collapsed wall.

Residential houses and several establishments were also damaged by the heavy rains while power supply was cut off in some parts of Masbate City.  

At least 100 families residing near the seaport were evacuated in Dimasalang, Masbate.

The ceiling of the Parish of Immaculate Conception in Batuan, Masbate, where some evacuees were staying, fell while the roof in some parts of the church flew away due to strong winds and heavy rains. The exact number of evacuees hurt due to the incident is still being determined.

Meanwhile, around 5,000 families were evacuated in the towns of Viga and San Andres in Catanduanes.

Flooding were experienced in Eastern Visayas, particularly in Leyte, Biliran and Samar.

In an interview with Balitanghali, Roel Montieza, early warning officer of the Leyte PDRRMO, said 490 families or 1686 individuals evacuated in 12 municipalities.

More than 20 houses in Northern Samar were totally damaged due to the onslaught of Ompong. 

In Zamboanga del Sur, two were reported hurt after a tree fell on a store in Brgy. Poblacion, Dumingag. The incident happened after a heavy rain and strong winds brought by southwest monsoon and Opong. 

A total of 60 families or 241 residents of Obando, Bulacan evacuated due to the expected effects of Opong. Obando Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is currently monitoring other areas needing evacuation.

Stranded passengers

Meanwhile, some passengers and vehicles containing perishable goods were stranded in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro as some ports closed due to the threat of storm surge.

A total of 586 passengers and 110 vehicles were stranded in Batangas Port since Wednesday due to the bad weather.

Meanwhile, at least 500 passengers, 400 rolling cargoes, and 22 private vehicle were affected, according to the Oriental Mindoro PDRRMO. 

At least 1,000 families or 4,000 individuals were preemptively evacuated. However, the PDRRMO said it might implement force evacuation should the storm further intesify.

PITX

Some travelers, meanwhile,  were stranded in some ports in Metro Manila.

At the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), 21 provincial land trips bound for Baguio, Tabaco City, Masbate, San Jose, Mindoro, Tacloban, Iloilo, Davao, and Tagum were cancelled due Opong. 

Seatrips were also cancelled at the Manila North Port, causing some passengers to be stranded  in the seaport since Thursday evening. 

PAGASA

Weather bureau PAGASA raised storm signal number 3 over seven areas in Luzon and Visayas as severe Tropical Storm Opong maintained its strength after passing over Sibuyan and Tablas Islands in Romblon and heading to Mindoro Island. 

Opong was last spotted over the coastal waters of Ferrol, Romblon packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 150 km/h, and a central pressure of 985 hPa.

Signal no. 3 was raised over the following areas:

Luzon

• Batangas
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro
• Visayas
• The northern portion of Aklan (Makato, Tangalan, Kalibo, New Washington, Ibajay, Lezo, Malay, Nabas, Numancia, Batan, Buruanga)
• Caluya Island

Signal No. 2

Luzon

• The southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, Subic, Olongapo City, Castillejos, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe)
• Bataan
• The southern portion of Pampanga (Porac, Santa Rita, Guagua, Sasmuan, Macabebe, Masantol, Santo Tomas, San Simon, Minalin, City of San Fernando, Bacolor, Floridablanca, Apalit, Lubao)
• The southern portion of Bulacan (Obando, Paombong, Bocaue, City of San Jose del Monte, Bustos, City of Malolos, City of Meycauayan, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Pandi, Plaridel, Calumpit, Santa Maria, Hagonoy, Baliuag, Bulacan, Marilao, Pulilan)
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• Cavite
• Laguna
• The southern portion of Quezon (Pitogo, Buenavista, Lucena City, Calauag, Pagbilao, Tiaong, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Guinayangan, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, San Antonio, Alabat, Candelaria, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Sariaya, City of Tayabas, Macalelon, Mauban, Dolores, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San Narciso, Tagkawayan, San Francisco, San Andres)
• The southern portion of Camarines Sur (Ocampo, Milaor, Nabua, Buhi, Baao, Cabusao, Bato, Camaligan, Pili, Sipocot, Pamplona, Ragay, Iriga City, San Fernando, Magarao, Minalabac, Del Gallego, Balatan, Libmanan, Naga City, Bombon, Bula, Canaman, Pasacao, Sagñay, Gainza, Lupi)
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate
• Calamian Islands
• Cuyo Islands

Visayas

• The northern portion of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, Valderrama, Barbaza, Tibiao, Patnongon, Laua-An, Bugasong)
• The rest of Aklan
• Capiz
• The northern portion of Iloilo (Estancia, Carles, Balasan, Batad, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Sara, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, San Enrique, City of Passi, Bingawan, Calinog, Lambunao, Dueñas)
• The northern portion of Negros Occidental (Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, Cadiz City, Sagay City)
• The extreme northern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin) including Bantayan Islands
• The extreme western portion of Northern Samar (San Vicente, Capul, San Antonio)
• The extreme western portion of Samar (Tagapul-An)

—Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News