BASYANG HITS COASTAL TOWNS OF CAMARINES SUR, 24 STILL MISSING, ONE DEAD

SIRUMA, Camarines Sur — At least 25 fishermen are still missing while rescued survivors are still recuperating at the Bicol Medical Center when typhoon Basyang, with international name “Coscon”, lashed out its fury and hit the coastal towns of Camarines Sur last Tuesday.

Nanette Rodrigazo, Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Camarines Sur chapter administrator, sent off the Red Cross ambulance, together with the PDCC transport vehicle, in Tinambac town early Thursday morning to fetch the rescued fishermen off the island of Butauanan in Siruma town.

Siruma Mayor Sandy Ondis identified the survivors as Ronnel Gillen, 32; Antonio Jurado, 41; Sonny Royol, 31; Dario Senereo, 38; Marvin Fontanillas, 19; Marlo Domingo, 21; Noel Boron, 31, and Nelson Gillen , 40. The survivors were rescued at around 3:00 pm, Wednesday afternoon.

Ramil Estabaya, another fisherman, is still missing while Mar Gillen, 37 was declared dead by the rescuers. Gillen, according to the initial findings, succumbed to hypothermia. He is from Calero, Panganiban, Camarines Norte.

According to Ondis, the survivors sailed off to sea to go fishing without knowing that typhoon Basyang is coming. “They came from different provinces, some of them from Quezon, 4 are from Camarines Norte and we have three from Camarines Sur. They didn’t know that a typhoon is coming so they sailed, thinking that they will bring home money to their families.”

With 24 people still missing, Major General Ruperto R. Pabustan, commander of the 9th Philippine Army Infantry Division, directed his men stationed at different battalion and brigade to extend transport assistance to the evacuees, and particularly aid in the relief operations in coordination with the local government units and other organizations.

Rescue efforts are now underway to locate other survivors who may have been swept away by big tides to the neighboring coastal barangays. The Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force are now out in the field to help hasten the rescue efforts. (LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur)