Typhoon kills eight in southern Philippines

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines

At least eight people were confirmed dead on Friday as typhoon Vinta, also known as Tembin, continued to inflict widespread moderate to heavy rains in the central and southern Philippines.

Seven of the casualties, which included two children, were reported in the southern Philippines’ Lanao del Sur due to landslides and flashfloods. The body of a three-year old girl buried alive was retrieved in Bukidnon province.

In an interview with GMA News late Friday afternoon, Saripada Pacasum Jr, head of Lanao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Office, also disclosed that four other people are reported missing in the province.

Pacasum said the rain had stopped and the response team was already clearing roads from land and other debris washed away by the volume of outpour.

Pacasum also disclosed that their situation is worsened due to downed electricity lines.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines confirmed earlier that seven transmission lines and facilities were affected by the onslaught of the typhoon which would only be inspected and restored as soon as weather condition improves.

Vinta made a landfall as a severe tropical storm at dawn on Friday in Davao Oriental province, affecting at least 20 other provinces in the country.

It has weakened into a tropical depression; However, rains will continue to pour within the next 24 hours which could trigger more flashfloods and landslides according to Philippines’ weather state bureau.

Just last week, the central Philippines was hit by tropical storm Urduja which claimed at least 40 lives and destroyed an estimated PHP1 billion ($19.95 million) in infrastructure and agriculture.