Three deaths confirmed after typhoon Ompong batters N. Luzon as reports come in

 

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque presides over hte National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. (Photo grabbed from RTVM)

(Eagle News) — After lashing Northern Luzon, typhoon Ompong has so far claimed three lives, including two in the Cordilera region and one in Marikina City.

During a briefing of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) which was presided by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the Palace spokesperson confirmed that there were three casualties reported after typhoon Ompong battered Northern Luzon.

“Bad news, there were reports of initial casualties reported na,” he said.

The two who were killed were actually first responders who went to the landslide affected areas in Cordillera, said Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad of the Office of Civil Defense.

Officers in the city of Baguio recovered the women’s bodies from the soil and rubble after a hillside collapsed from the typhoon’s heavy rains, said police Superintendent Pilita Tacio.

In Marikina, a body of a child was also found in the Marikina river, under Javier bridge.  The casualty has not yet been identified.

Police said the casualty “appeared to be a nine to ten year old girl.

Police Senior Supt. Benigno Durana, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson. said that two persons were listed missing, while four more were injured — two because of electrocution and another two because of landslides.