'Goring' leaves 3 missing in Western Visayas

Three people were reported missing in the Western Visayas region due to heavy rains brought by typhoon "Goring" when it entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early this week, disaster and relief officials said. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) based in Camp Aguinaldo identified those missing as Edmar Jauod, 10; and Rizza Operiano, 9, both of Bugasong town in Antique. A report from Eligio Calaor, officer-in-charge of the OCD in Region VI identified another missing person as Analyn Laude, 28, of Patnongon town, of the same province. The three went missing after getting carried away by the current while crossing a river or creek, the OCD said. Jauod and Operiano were passing through the Paliwan River in Bugasong last September 17, while Laude was doing the same at the Macarena Creek in Patnongon on Wednesday. The OCD-Region VI on Thursday has yet to receive a report about the condition of the three victims. According to the OCD, a total of 28 villages were affected by floods in the province of Negros Occidental – one in Bago City, six in Ilog, four in Pulupandan, 10 in San Enrique and seven in Valladolid. A total of 6,286 families or 31,430 persons from said province were affected. Eleven villages in Iloilo City were also submerged in floodwaters, affecting 1,242 families or 5,655 persons. City officials accommodated 985 persons in temporary evacuation centers. The OCD said a tornado incident was reported in Bacolod City last September 17, damaging 23 houses (four totally and 19 partially) and affecting 23 families or 115 persons. Quoting the national weather station, the OCD said the continuous heavy rains in the western part of the country was triggered by the southwest monsoon even as 'Goring' already left the country last September 18. - GMANews.TV