Tropical Storm Ofel batters the Philippines before heading out to sea
Tropical storm “Ofel” hit various parts of the country on Thursday, leaving at least four people dead and nine missing, according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Tropical Storm Ofel Image/Pagasa
Ofel (international codename: Son-Tinh) is now headed away from the archipelago, headed toward Vietnam, but left thousands stranded and adversely affected hundreds of families.
The NDRRMC said a total of 296 families or 957 persons have been affected in five towns in Eastern Visayas.
The agency also noted that there are now 16,473 persons reportedly stranded from different ports in Metro Manila, Central Visayas, Southern Tagalog, Western and Eastern Visayas, Bicol, and Northern Mindanao regions.
Also, 97 trucks and cars, 37 passenger bus, 825 rolling cargoes, 106 vessels and 50 motorbancas were stranded in several ports nationwide.
The NDRRMC has identified the fatalities as 88-year-old Sophia M. Recto, of Torrijos town, who died of hypothermia, 8-year-old, Jonnie Ocson, from Barangay (village) Canduyong, Odiongan, Romblon, who drowned, Napoleon Gonzalez, 49, a municipal employee in Dumarao town in Capiz, and Salustiano Fabellon, 77, in Concepcion town in Romblon who died from falling trees.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) lowered storm signals for all areas in the Visayas and Mindanao, but kept Signal No. 1 hoisted over Metro Manila, Bataan, Zambales, Cavite, Batangas, the northern part of Mindoro and Lubang Island.
