Tropical Storm Juaning kills at least 10 in the Philippines

[News_Editor]

Tropical Storm Juaning kills at least 10 in the Philippines

2011-07-26 23:59:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANILA (BNO NEWS) -- At least ten people were killed on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Juaning brought strong winds and heavy rains to parts of the northeastern Philippines, the government said. Several others remain missing.

As of 9 p.m. local time, the center of Juaning was located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north-northwest of Daet, a 1st class municipality in the province of Camarines Norte. It is moving toward the west-northwest at a speed of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) per hour and Juaning is expected to make landfall in southern and central Luzon on Wednesday, posing a threat to the capital of Manila.

As of 11 p.m. local time, the maximum sustained winds of Juaning had increased to 85 kilometers (52 miles) per hour near the center with gusts up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

According to Benito Ramos, the Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), at least 10 people were killed as a result of Juaning by late Tuesday afternoon. Five fishermen remain missing, four of whom have been missing since Sunday.

The deadliest incident so far was reported in the village of Gabon in Albay province where a landslide killed at least seven people, including three children aged 4, 7, and 10. Other landslides were reported elsewhere in the region, but caused no casualties.

In Catanduanes province, a 49-year-old man was killed in the municipality of Viga when he was hit by an electric post. And a 50-year-old man was killed in the municipality of Bagamanok when he drowned.

In Iloilo province, the body of an unidentified male was recovered who went missing on Sunday while attempting to cross a river. NDRRMC gave no other details about the death but attributed the casualty to bad weather which later became Juaning.

Also on Tuesday, a boat called Nena Linda 3 with 28 passengers on board sank in rough weather after leaving Buenavista in Guimaras province for Iloilo City in Iloilo province. A total of 22 passengers suffered minor injuries while five others were hospitalized with more serious injuries.

In the municipality of Mulanay in Quezon province, more than 900 people were forced to evacuate due to flooding. And more than 20 flights across the region were canceled due to bad weather conditions.

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