Friday, August 22, 2008 'Karen' leaves 6 dead in Cordillera By Jane Cadalig
SIX persons died and one was injured in various areas of the region at the height of typhoon Karen (Nuri) on Wednesday, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported.
Four persons, including three kids in Benguet and one woman in Baguio, were buried in mudslides caused by the heavy downpour. The casualty in Abra was pinned down by a fallen tree.
Those killed were identified as siblings Mark Anthony, one year old; Lester, three years old; and Alvin Somera, 10 years old, all of 1st Gate Antamok, Ucab, Itogon.
The victims were rushed to Saint Louis Hospital of the Sacred Heart but were pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan reported the victims were left inside the house when the landslide occurred. Their father, a miner, was out for work. The mother, who was cooking at the time and her two other children, aged eight and six, were out of the house, sparing them from the tragedy, Fongwan said.
The Provincial Government will shoulder the funeral services for the victims.
Several other landslide-affected families in the same village were relocated to a nearby church. Fongwan said 14 families, with 69 members, were assisted.
In Baguio City and Abra, the OCD identified the casualties as Petra Kadatar, 72 years old and Camille Rasalan, 12, while the one injured was identified as Leslie Carpiso, 21.
An estimated P3.7-million worth of damages to infrastructure was also reported in the region.
Meanwhile, 11 major roads in various provinces were closed to traffic, including Kennon Road, the Baguio-Bontoc Road and the Bontoc Cagayan Road.
However, most of the roads were opened to traffic after clearing operations were conducted.
