‘Quinta’ claims 5 lives, five missing

LEGAZPI CITY --- Five people died while five others were missing in Bicol after Typhoon Quinta struck the region last Oct. 25, an Office of Civil Defense (OCD) report said.

Four of the fatalities, two of whom were minors, drowned while one was electrocuted at the height of the typhoon.

The five were identified as: Romeo Torillos Sr., 44; his son Romeo Jr., 19; and Luisito Tallada, 15, all fishermen from Barangay District 3, Gigmoto, Catanduanes; Rolan Kaiser Eustaqio, 3, of Bacacay, Albay; and Ruivic Quinto of Barangay Salceda, Daet town in Camarines Norte.

Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD spokesperson, said that the reported casualties have yet to be verified by the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Management of the Dead and Missing Persons Cluster.

On the other hand, search and rescue operations were ongoing for five missing fishermen. They were identified as: Dante, 43, and Joel, 41, both surnamed Potenciano, and Francis Valles, all of Panganiban, Catanduanes; and Roberto and Jomar, both surnamed de la Concepcion, of Gigmoto, Catanduanes.

Naz also said 15 persons were injured during the typhoon – three from Camarines Norte, five from Sorsogon; six from Albay; and one from Catanduanes.

Meanwhile, damage to agriculture and public infrastructure as of Oct. 27 was estimated at P689 million. Some 10,204 houses were damaged while 512 were destroyed by the typhoon.

Naz also said 32 passengers, 15 trucks, and eight large vehicles were still stranded in ports across the region.

The OCD also reported that some areas in Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Masbate were still flooded. (PNA)