BY 

August 2, 2012 – TAIWAN - Typhoon “Gener” (international name: Saola) left at least 24 persons dead and almost 180,000 displaced as of Thursday afternoon, disaster management officials said. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said new fatalities were recorded in Ilocos Sur, Quezon, Bulacan, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Negros Oriental and Misamis Oriental. The latest fatality was identified as Venice Sinopen, a grade three pupil from San Ramon Sigay, Ilocos Sur, who died of drowning. In Bataan, a certain Angelito Bicoy, 59, drowned and was recovered along the shoreline of barangay Sisiman in Mariveles last Tuesday. Two new fatalities were also recorded in Bulacan namely Efren Salvacion, 41, of Obando and Patrick dela Rosa, 12, of Marilao. Both died of drowning. Five persons from Visayas and Mindanao died after they were hit by fallen trees during the height of the typhoon. The NDRRMC said 21 persons sustained injuries because of the typhoon. The injured persons are from Mimaropa, Cordillera and Western Visayas regions. A total of 331,588 persons or 69,292 families in Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Metro Manila have been affected by the typhoon. Of this, 37,225 families or 179,990 persons were displaced. While “Gener” has left the Philippine area of responsibility, 12,000 persons or 2,664 families are still inside 61 evacuation centers. The amount of property damage caused by Gener remained at P2.13 million. The NDRRMC is still gathering reports from its field personnel on the extent of damage caused by the typhoon. –Phil Star

Fire near Temecula, Ca scorches up to 100 acres