26 feared dead as Bicol grapples with Kristine damage

More fatalities were reported in Bicol as the region grapples with the devastating effects of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).

According to Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5), the reported death toll, subject for validation, has climbed to 26 on Friday from the previous day's 20. 

The PRO-5 also said that three people were reported missing and nine were reported injured in the region as of 3 a.m.

A total of 314,309 people (106,303 families) were staying in evacuation centers as 586 barangays were flooded, most of them, or 540, were in Camarines Sur.

The police also recorded 22 landslide incidents — 13 in Albay, four each in Camarines Sur and Sorsogon, and one in Camarines Norte.

A total of 4,303 passengers were stranded at seaports after 26 trips were canceled in Bicol. Also, eight flights were canceled in the region.

Due to the impact of Kristine, 835 light vehicles and 831 heavy vehicles were stranded.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed 1,382 personnel in Bicol to assist the victims of the tropical cyclone.

Schools and government offices remained shuttered in Luzon for the third day on Friday due to Kristine and its effects.

In a statement, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he has ordered the full mobilization of military assets for relief operations for the victims of the cyclone.

"I have ordered the full mobilization of available AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) personnel and resources which can be committed to relief operations,” Marcos said. 

"Other uniformed agencies such as the PNP (Philippine National Police), BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection) and the Philippine Coast Guard are likewise placed under that status."

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is raised over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, the northern and central portions of Sorsogon, as well as the northern and central portions of Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands.

Kristine was last spotted 125 kilometers west northwest of Bacnotan, La Union packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 115 kph.

The severe tropical storm was moving west northwestward at 25 kph. 

The Philippines typically records an average of 20 tropical storms annually, often resulting in heavy rains, strong winds, and deadly landslides. —KBK, GMA Integrated News