Ursula death toll in Panay climbs to 26

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

The death toll in the aftermath of Typhoon Ursula (international name: Phanfone) in Panay Island has risen to 26, authorities said Sunday.

The increase was due in part to the recovery of the bodies of persons who were reported missing.

As of 3 p.m. of Dec. 29, Iloilo topped the number of casualties with 16 while Capiz and Aklan provinces have five casualties each.

Batad town in Iloilo posted eight casualties – Roel de Asis, Sr., 41, and his children “Moymoy” de Asis, 12; Rosa Mae de Asis, 15; and Rhiana de Asis, 3.

They died of drowning, together with their relatives, Elgie de Asis and Ronilo Evangelio, both 12 years old.

Batad’s two other casualties are Eduardo Arbis Alvarez, 77, and Jayboy Lazada Lamato, 35.

The four casualties from Balasan were Danilo Abendanio, 62, and Henry “Dodok” Alfuente, 56, both of Barangay Poblacion, Balasan; Joemar Dela Cruz, 30, of Barangay Dolores, Balasan; and Claudia Aplomina, 50.

Dela Cruz died of drowning while the three victims died of cardiac arrest at the evacuation center.

Carles town recorded two fatalities with the death of 40-year-old Abe Tolosa Ignacio and Eduardo Ferrer, 35.

Ferrer added up to Ursula casualties after his body was found in an overturned banca.

In Estancia, the lone fatality was 39-year old Romel delos Santos Gonzales.

The body of Jerald Maming, 26, a taxi driver from Passi City, who was earlier reported missing, was found Saturday.

Meanwhile, the five casualties in Capiz were identified as Merlinda Delatina Baquilar, 53; Joel Balasa Baria, 67; and Leonel Flores Baria, 43, all of Pontevedra town; Edward Gautani, 11, of Barangay Poblacion, Pres. Roxas; and Janine Lacorte Llano, 13, of Mambusao.

The fatalities in Aklan were Victorio Baitista of Batan town; Basilio Gregorio of New Washington; and Joselito Isturis, Carmilino Castro, and Hyacinth Lachica of Ibajay.

The number of missing persons is now down to four.

On the other hand, the OCD-6 recorded 25 Ursula-related injuries. Two were in Iloilo; 11 in Aklan; and 12 in Capiz.

As of 9 a.m. of Dec. 26, the OCD-6 reported that all sea vessels have resumed operations. There are no more stranded passengers in the seaports.

All flights to and from Kalibo, Aklan have resumed as of December 28 with three aircrafts serving at a time.

All flights to and from Boracay Airport in Caticlan resumed on Friday.