OCD: 18 DEAD AS STORMS BATTER VISAYAS, LUZON

At least 18 people have died as Severe Tropical Storm "Opong" battered Visayas and Southern Luzon, while Northern Luzon is racing toward early recovery following the onslaught of Super Typhoon "Nando", Tropical Depression "Mirasol", and southwest monsoon (habagat), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Friday, Sept. 26.

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG

OCD Deputy Administrator Asst. Sec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said eight people died in Cagayan, including seven fishermen who drowned when their boat capsized and another one struck by fallen debris.

Three people also died in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) due to landslide and drowning, while three died in Central Luzon (Region 3).

In a virtual press briefing, the Bicol Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Director Claudio Yucot also reported four fatalities in Region 5: three were hit by fallen debris, uprooted tree, and collapsed wall in Masbate; and one was struck by lightning in Camarines Norte.

"Most of the fatalities are still for validation. We also have 17 injured and two missing that we are searching for already," Alejandro said.