THE death toll from tropical storm Quinta (international codename: Wukong) has risen to 11, with thousands more forced out of their homes by landslides and floods.

The regional disaster monitoring council said that most of the victims drowned, while three died when a tree fell on their homes. Two persons are still missing.

The storm has left the Philippines but more than 160 barangays (villages) remain flooded.
Over 13,000 people were in evacuation centers in Samar, Leyte Cebu and Panay.

Police and some volunteer groups joined forces in the conduct of search and rescue operations in Panay Island, where over 160 barangays are still underwater.

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr., regional police commander said that all of the affected provinces have been placed in full alert status with the urgent need for more personnel to conduct search and rescue

“Marami po tayong tawag na natatanggap na humihingi ng tulong. Marami pa daw ang nandoon sa bubong ng kanilang mga bahay mula noong gabi pa [We are receiving a lot of calls asking for help. Many people are in the roofs of their houses since last night],” Cruz said.

The police official added that their tactical operation center is closely monitoring search and rescue operations of police units in cooperation with the local government units and volunteer organizations.

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard in western
Visayas are also helping in the search and rescue efforts.

While vast areas were swamped by floods, regional disaster officer Celeste Milan expressed confidence that there would be no alarming rise in the death toll.

“It won’t be like Pablo [Bopha]. This was just more rain. Bopha was a super typhoon. While this [Quinta] was just a tropical depression,” Milan said.

Quinta weakened as it made several landfalls while moving westward to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). It was downgraded by state weather forecasters to a tropical depression a day after entering the country on Christmas Day.             

With a report from AFP