Photo courtesy of PNA
Tropical storm Inday (international name: Bavi) has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 8:20 a.m. Saturday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
The erstwhile super typhoon was tracked 680 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds at 140 km per hour, gusting to 170 kph and moving northwestward at 40 kph.
Despite Inday’s exit, though, most of the country will still experience monsoon rains.
In the aftermath, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that the number of deaths related to the storm climbed to 17 on Saturday.
The OCD also reported that more than 112,000 families were affected by the typhoon-enhanced southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’.
OCD deputy administrator Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV disclosed that around 2,900 families, or 11,200 individuals, are staying in 77 evacuation centers.
Alejandro added that they were still validating reports of the 17 deaths, four injuries and nine missing persons. Most of the casualties were linked to landslides and drowning incidents in Mindanao.
Ten fatalities were reported in Malapatan, Sarangani; five in Calanogas, Lanao del Sur; and two in Bukidnon.
The severe weather disrupted transportation across the country with sea travel suspended in 73 ports and more than 300 passengers stranded.