MANILA - At least six people have been killed while 11 have been reported missing as “Feria” (international codename: Nangka) which has been downgraded into a tropical depression lashed Southern Luzon after it swept over the Visayas, officials said Wednesday night.

"Feria" has weakened and now has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center. PAGASA said the tropical depression was moving northwest at 17 kilometers. The weather disturbance however brought floods, landslides and power failures across small islands in the Visayas and parts of Southern Luzon.

Four fishermen drowned off Alabat island southeast of Manila late Tuesday as they tried to steer their boat to shelter from the approaching cyclone, said Chief Inspector Susan Planas, police chief of Perez town in Quezon province.

Eleven other crew members were rescued but one of them was injured, Planas said in a telephone interview.

An unidentified person, reportedly a fisherman, in Hilutungan in Bantayan island in Cebu was reported to have died due to drowning. Vicente Layague also of Bantayan island meanwhile was the latest in the weather disturbance’s tally of casualties. He was reported to have been "swept away by strong currents."

Based on the National Disaster Coordinating Council's (NDCC) 7 p.m. report, the number of persons reported missing has risen to 11: a four-year-old in the flooded area of Romblon island; Maximo Sanchez, a Cebu fisherman who was reported missing June 23 late afternoon; five fishermen in Guian town in Eastern Samar province identified as Potenciano Amante, Boyboy Cabanatan, Olimpyo Darang, Totoy Oroyan and Demetrio Larriestan, Jun Mark Graciano and Aldrin Nicoloas of Batan town in Aklan province and who were believed to be swept away by strong curents while swimming at the beach; and Tito Gaspi Miraballes and Joshu Birata two fishermen from Matnog town in Sorsogon province.

Two people were reported injured in Southern Leyte while another was reported in Cebu. Ramil Escobar and Bocoy Pilapil of Padre Burgos town in Southern Leyte were earlier reported missing but were later found alive at the seashore of Barangay Malibago in Zurriago City Tuesday afternoon. Domingo Ilustrisisimo of Marivacan, Sta. Fe in Cebu meanwhile was injured after a coconut tree fell due to strong winds.

Schools in Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte and 69 houses have been damaged due to “Feria.” Thirty houses were totally damaged in Romblon and Eastern Samar while 39 were partially damaged in Romblon. The houses in Eastern Samar were destroyed by a tornado, said the NDCC. Public works officials have reportedly been dispatched for clearing operations.

10,000 stranded

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had barred sea vessels in affected areas from sailing.

The PCG, in its 5 p.m. report Wednesday, said that 9,978 passengers were stranded in 24 ports in Southern Luzon and Visayas.

Also stranded in the ports were 108 trucks, 61 cars, 61 passenger buses and 2,347 rolling cargoes. Sixty-one vessels and 105 motor bancas were also reported stranded in the different ports.

The PCG said it is providing the necessary assistance, safety and security to the stranded passengers.

Power failures were also reported in parts of Manila, Samar provinces and Romblon.

A school holiday has been declared in the capital Wednesday and in other areas affected by “Feria.”

Affected flights

The Manila International Airport Authority, in its 9:45 p.m. advisory, said 68 domestic and international flights have been cancelled while two were delayed due to the weather disturbance.

The country’s weather agency, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA), in its 11 p.m. bulletin, has lowered the public storm warning signals in Northern Mindoro, Lubang island, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan and Zambales to Signal No. 1 from the previous Storm Signal No. 2. All other storm warnings have been lowered.

PAGASA said the tropical depression was located 80 kilometers west of Ambulong town in Batangas province or 100 kilometers northwest of Calapan City in Mindoro island.

"Feria" has weakened and now has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center. PAGASA said the tropical depression was moving northwest at 17 kilometers.

PAGASA said it forecast “Feria” to be 179 kilometers west of Vigan City by Thursday evening.

With the lowering of the storm warnings, only pre-school classes would automatically remain suspended in areas where Storm Signal No.1 is raised as per Department of Education (DepEd) guidelines.

DepEd and the National Disaster Coordinating Council however said elementary and high school classes would remain suspended in Metro Manila, Bataan, Cavite and Batangas as the threat of heavy rains remains.

Suspension of classes in the tertiary level meanwhile was left to the discretion of university and college officials. With Agence France-Presse