‘Santi’ exits RP, leaves at least 11 dead

11/01/2009

Typhoon “Santi” (international codename Mirinae) smashed through Metro Manila and Southern Luzon provinces overnight, killing 11 persons and worsening floods in areas that were struggling to recover from recent deadly storms, officials yesterday said.

The typhoon, packing winds of up to 185 kilometers an hour, was the third major storm to hit Luzon in just five weeks, with the previous two claiming more than 1,100 lives.

In Manila, areas that have been flooded since tropical storm “Ondoy” struck in late September were hit with more heavy rains, while residents in other districts were forced onto their roofs to escape rising waters.

Military and police rescue boats worked to save people who were trapped by a flash flood, officials said.

One man was found dead and his one-year-old baby was missing after they were washed away while trying to cross an overflowing creek in Muntinlupa City, the military said.

Three persons were reported dead and five others were missing in Laguna, the local disaster monitoring office said.

Seven persons died in Bicol region, mostly from flash floods, officials added.

Two others were missing in Batangas after their car fell into a river when a bridge collapsed, Nationa Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) spokesman Ernesto Torres said.

Ondoy, which struck on Sept. 26, caused massive flooding in Manila. Outlying districts that are home to more than a million people were expected to remain flooded into the New Year even before Santi hit.

Other towns in Laguna reported flooding, along with areas in the Bicol region further to the south, Torres said.

The NDCC added that some 116,000 persons were evacuated to safer grounds due to the typhoon.

As of 1 p.m., Saturday almost 23,101 families are now temporarily living at various evacuation centers.

The NDCC and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have started their relief goods operations at some 251 evacuations centers as early as Friday.

According to Torres, 8,567 passengers were stranded in various ports in the Calabarzon and Bicol regions.

He said the typhoon’s strong winds also toppled electric posts in Camarines Norte, Laguna and Metro Manila, causing power outages.

It also forced flights to be suspended on Saturday morning from Manila’s international airport.

Ferries were also cancelled, ruining travel plans for many who were hoping to head to their hometowns for the All Saints’ Day long-weekend public holiday.

As of 5 p.m., the typhoon had left Luzon and was charted 670 km west of Manila, moving away from the country at 20 km per hour, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

The storm is forecast to move farther away from the country and is expected to be 670 km west south west of the National Capital Region by Sunday afternoon.

“The worst is over for Metro Manila,” Pagasa forecaster Nathaniel Cruz said. AFP, Gina Peralta-Elorde, Pat C. Santos, PNA and AFP

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