NDRRMC: 1 dead, 4 hurt due to 'Crising'

MANILA -- Close to 60,000 people in Mindanao have been affected by Tropical Depression "Crising" that has so far claimed one fatality and injured four others, the state disaster agency said Wednesday.

In its latest update, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified the lone fatality as Francisco Digaynon, resident of Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Compostela Valley. He drowned while crossing the Taytayan River.

A landslide incident in Barangay Malasalug, Sapad, Lanao del Norte, on Tuesday destroyed a residential house and injured four people.

As of Wednesday, Crising has affected 59,634 people in 47 villages in the Northern Mindanao and Davao regions, the NDRRMC said.

At least 735 families or 3,568 people are currently inside seven evacuation centers.

Crising has so far damaged 87 homes.

On Tuesday, a flashflood incident occurred at Barangay Cabagayan, Tarragona, Davao Oriental, destroying a residential house and affecting three families. One foot bridge also fell down at Sitio Mamoyapoy, Barangay Lucatan in same town.

In Surigao del Sur, floods hit barangays Siagao, Patong, San Roque, Poblacion, Baras of San Miguel town; and barangays Anahao Daan, Anahao Bag-o, Bangusad, Layog, and Caras-an of Tago town.

In Bukidnon, the water level in Pulangi River was at critical level as of Tuesday, the NDRRMC said.

The agency added that due to the bad weather, 38 domestic flights have been cancelled while a total of 309 sea passengers, seven vessels, and 14 motor bancas were stranded as of Tuesday.

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the center of Crising was spotted 190 kilometers northwest of Zamboanga City, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Crising is packed with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and is forecast to move west northwest at 24 kph. It continues to track the said direction and is now over the Sulu Sea, Pagasa reported.

In its Facebook account, Pagasa issued a heavy rainfall yellow advisory for Zamboanga del Norte at 9 a.m., saying moderate to heavy rainfall was observed in the said area for the past three hours and would most likely to continue for the next two to three hours.

"Residents in low lying areas and DRRMC's are advised to be alert and take necessary precautionary measures on the occurrence of floods/landslides," the agency said.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rains were also observed over Surigao, Davao, Caraga, Compostela Valley, Misamis Oriental and Cotabato, for the past three hours and would most likely to continue within two hours.

"With this development, all rainfall warnings except in Zamboanga del Norte are now terminated," the agency said.

Earlier at 8 a.m., Pagasa reported that thunderstorms with heavy to intense rains are being experienced over Liloan, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay in Cebu, and are expected to persist in two to three hours.

Light to moderate rains are also being experienced over Northern Samar which would persist for the next two hours.

Meanwhile, a Low Pressure Area was estimated at 220 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)