As Luzon counts losses, ‘Basyang’ death toll now at 23

The death toll from Typhoon Basyang (international name: Conson) rose to 23 early Thursday, but the national disaster coordinating body indicated the count may even go higher amid unverified reports that more bodies were recovered in Quezon province.

In its 6 a.m. report, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said the number of confirmed deaths included 17 from Southern Luzon, and three each from Central Luzon and Bicol region.

At least 59 people were reported missing, including 40 in Calaguan Island in Camarines Norte province; six in Mariveles in Bataan, and two in Bagamanoc in Catanduanes.

But the NDCC also said the number of those killed and missing might still go up as it cited unverified reports saying three bodies had been recovered off Polillo’s Balesin Island in Quezon, and 18 fishermen, also in the province, have remained missing after their boats capsized in stormy seas.

NDCC’s 6 a.m. report also showed 14 were reported injured, including 12 in Southern Luzon and two in Bataan.

A total of 12,798 families or 64,246 people were affected in 194 villages in five cities and 47 towns in 12 provinces in Central and Southern Luzon, Metro Manila and Bicol.

At least 45 evacuation centers were set up to provide shelter for 1,685 families or 8,281 people. As of 6 a.m., 1,526 families or 7,545 people were still inside 37 evacuation centers.

Some 3,274 houses were affected in Central and Southern Luzon and in Bicol, including 370 destroyed and 2,904 damaged.

Multi-million peso damage

Damage to infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries and schools in Southern Luzon, Bicol and Metro Manila was estimated at P22.297 million.

This included P17.4 million in damage to roads and bridges.

In Bataan, the breakwater structure in Barangay Poblacion in Mariveles town was damaged.

The Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road Km 180+000 in Barangay Villa Aurora in Maria Aurora town in Aurora province was not passable.

In Southern Luzon, the Manus Bailey Bridge I (Bgy Batasan, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro) sustains damage estimated at P585,000.

A road slip was reported at the Tayabas-Mainit-Mauban Road, with the damage estimated at P1.8 million.

The Sinisian Bridge along Palico-Balayan-Batangas Road sustained scoured slope protection (P10 million) and two road slips near Diokno Highway (P5 million). It was rendered impassable.

In Bicol, a portion of Inalmasinan Spillway Km 148+650 along Caramoan in Catanduanes Road was washed out (P50,000).

At least 23 schools in Southern Luzon - including three elementary and three high schools - were damaged, with an estimated cost of P4.87 million.

Some 941 hectares planted with crops were damaged in Sta. Cruz, Sta. Maria, Mabitac, Pila and Sta. Maria in Laguna.

Minor landslides occurred in Bakla and Dalawitan villages in Majayjay, Laguna and Turbina village in Calamba City.

Only one lane was passable in Tagaytay-Taal Lake Road, Rizal Boundar-Famy-Quezon Boundary Road, and Tayabas-Mainit-Mauban Road.

The Manus Bailey Bridge I in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro was passable only to motorcycles and tricycles.

In Bicol, the Presentacion-Maligaya Road in Camarines Sur was not passable due to landslides. The Inalmasinan Spillway Km 148+650 in Catanduanes Road was not passable.
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/196121/as-luzon-counts-losses-basyang-death-toll-now-at-23
Power restoration

Some 24 hours after Basyang cut off power supply in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said Thursday it has restored electricity in 92 percent of its franchise areas, which cover Metro Manila and parts of the provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas, and Pampanga.

With the power restoration, the Light and Metro Rail Transit (LRT/MRT) systems, which depend on power from Meralco, resumed service after being disabled for most of Wednesday. [see: Power restored in 92% of Meralco areas; LRT, MRT services back]

On the other hand, NDCC's report said power was fully restored in Ilocos, while some substations in Metro Manila had been fully energized, adding that Central Luzon had 80 percent of its power supply restored.

But in Bicol, there was still no power in Camarines Norte province.

Source: GmaNews