Northern Luzon spared anew as tropical depression weakens

Santi’s toll: 19 deaths, P183.5M in damage

STORM-BATTERED NORTHERN Luzon has been spared anew as tropical depression Tino weakened into a low pressure area, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration said yesterday.

In a phone interview, Nathaniel A. Cruz, the weather bureau’s chief forecaster, said the northeast monsoon weakened Tino, the 20^th storm to enter Philippine waters this year, and spared the region that has been battered by typhoon Pepeng (international name: Parma) that hovered in the area for 10 days after hitting land on Oct. 3. The region was threatened by typhoon Ramil (Lupit) more than a week later but it instead hit extreme Northern Luzon as it exited to the South China Sea.

"The relatively cool and dry northeast monsoon caused the gradual weakening of Tino… there is a minimal possibility for it to regain strength," Mr. Cruz said, adding fair weather is expected in the next three to four days.

"The eastern section of Northern and Central Luzon will have occasional to frequent rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides," the weather bureau said in its final bulletin on Tino yesterday.

Santi’s toll

Meanwhile, damage from typhoon Santi (Mirinae), which hit Southern Luzon on Oct. 31, reached over P180 million, with the death toll reaching 19, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said yesterday.

The council, in its 6 a.m. report, pegged the damage at P183.5 million, or P 157.1 million to infrastructure, 19.9 million to farms and P6.5 million to private property. Several roads and bridges in the region remain closed to traffic.

NDCC said 10 persons were killed in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), eight in the Bicol region and one in Metro Manila. Three others remained missing. At least 15,917 persons remain sheltered in 99 evacuation centers.

At least six barangays in Pasig City are still flooded, the NDCC said, adding 85 barangays in Laguna and 48 barangays in Rizal bordering Laguna Lake remain submerged in knee- to chest-deep water.

In a related development, at least one fisherman remained missing after a sea mishap off the coast of Cagayan province last Monday.

At least 17 fishing boats with 39 crew went fishing on Monday amid rough seas and strong winds, the NDCC said yesterday. -- Adriel M. Paglinawan

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Northern Luzon spared anew as tropical depression weakens

Santi’s toll: 19 deaths, P183.5M in damage