VINTA’S WRATH. This December 22, 2017 photo shows a swelling Mandulog River in Barangay Hinaplanon, Iligan City due to tropical storm Vinta. (Divina Suson / davaotoday.com)
ILIGAN CITY, Philippines – Two people were reported dead Friday, December 22, in a Lanao del Sur town, one of the areas hit by weakening tropical storm Vinta (international name: Tembin), an official said.
Bodies of the victims, all schoolchildren, were found in Tugaya, on Friday, according to Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson of Lanao del Sur’s Provincial Crisis Management Committee.
Adiong, however, has yet to identify the names of the victims.
Some five others were also reported missing in a nearby town Bacolod-Kalawi, said Adiong, as flood waters continue to force villagers to find safer grounds.
Vinta weakens
Vinta, previously categorized as a severe tropical storm, has now weakened with sustained winds of 60 km/h, moving over Misamis Oriental and Zamboanga del Norte, PAGASA reported at 2 pm on Friday.
But despite that, PAGASA said there will be widespread moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Visayas and Western Mindanao within 24 hours.
“Residents of these areas must make appropriate actions against flooding and landslides, coordinate with their respective local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates,” the bureau said in a bulletin 2PM Friday, December 22.
Sea travels, it said, will remain risky over these areas. (with reports from Mick Basa / davaotoday.com)
Calamities, Disasters in Mindanao, Trembin, Tropical Storm, Vinta, Zia Alonto Adiong
