'Kiko' death toll rises to 10; 29K folks affected in Luzon

Ten people, including three foreign trekkers and three children, were killed in a flash flood and landslide unleashed by Typhoon "Kiko" (Morakot) in the northern Philippines on Friday, officials said. In its report dated 6 p.m., the NDCC said the dead included five in Tarlac, three in Baguio City, and two in Botolan town in Zambales province. At least nine were injured, including three in Baguio City and six in Tarlac. Confirmed dead were French nationals Martin Cholet, Walter Steylian and Therry Caliot, all of whom drowned in Tarlac. Their bodies were recovered Friday morning. Likewise found dead were their tourist guides Fidel Reyla and Ordonio Fernando, village watchmen of Capas in Tarlac who died while rescuing the foreigners, the NDCC said. A GMA News’ Flash Report on Friday said the bodies of the four victims were found early Friday near the O’ Donnell River in Capas, along the trail to Pinatubo. Flash reporter Chino Gaston quoted Capas mayor Reynaldo Catacutan as saying the four, together with nine other foreigners, including three Koreans, visited the Pinatubo crater lake amid fair weather early Thursday. Later in the day, the group guided by Ordonio encountered heavy downpour as they were traveling down the trail on board a 4x4 truck. Their driver, apparently sensing danger, ordered everyone to get off the vehicle. "Then a huge chunk of the mountain collapsed and they were met by a surge of water," Catacutan said in Filipino. Six other French tourists were injured. They were identified as Diana Radjon, Beatrice Leguyader, Audier Biazin, Philippe Naurre, Philippe Quinibert, and Marie France Richard. Chief Superintendent Leo Nilo dela Cruz, regional police director for Central Luzon, told GMANews.TV that he has ordered an investigation as to how the tourists were permitted to go to Pinatubo despite rainy weather in the past days. "Pinaiimbestigahan ko kung bakit in-allow na umakyat pa (I ordered an investigation to find out why they were allowed to proceed despite rainy weather)," he said. On the other hand, Cris Piska, 7; Michael Piska, 12; and Edu Piska, 13 were killed when a landslide buried their home in Camp 8, Baguio City. Injured in another landslide in Basilan village in Baguio City were Modesta and Mariano Omipig. Hit by falling rocks in San Vicente, Baguio City was Rogelio Sumalao. Also in Baguio City, a landslide at Liwliw Creek in Purok 5 in Kias village, hitting small-scale miners there. At least nine miners were rescued and brought to the Baguio General Hospital. At least five more were rescued from another landslide in Camp 8. The NDCC said "Kiko" has so far affected 5,552 families or 28,629 people in 28 villages in Bulacan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, and Marikina and Pasig Cities. [See weather update on typhoon 'Kiko'] Of these, 626 families or 2,621 people were brought to eight evacuation centers. At least six houses were destroyed and three were damaged in Benguet province. The NDCC also said that as of Friday night, the Mindoro West Coastal Road's Kambingan section is not passable to traffic due to landslides, slip and scouring. In Benguet, Kennon Road at Camp Gate is closed due to a landslide at Camp 5. At least two landslides occurred in Sitio Luneta in Loakan in Itogon town in Benguet, resulting in the collapse of the Luneta Elementary School and damage to three ball mills and five houses. Residents in the area were brought to the Calvary Church. Another landslide occurred at Ilod village in Poblacion. In Baguio City, a landslide at Liwliw Creek in Purok 5 in Kias village hit a small-scale mine site there. At least nine miners were rescued and brought to the Baguio General Hospital. A landslide at Camp 8 buried one shanty, and killed three children. Many pocket miners were believed trapped in slides, with five of them brought to the Baguio General Hospital. Baguio City and Benguet province are experiencing power interruptions. - GMANews.TV