3 killed, 2 missing in north Philippines from typhoon Krosa

Three people were killed and two others were missing after typhoon Krosa (local name Vinta) battered northern part of the Philippines, a senior government official said here Saturday. Eduardo del Rosario, director of the Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said the three victims died in separate drowning incidents in northern Philippine provinces of Apayao, Cagayan and Abra, while those missing came from Abra and Isabela provinces. According to the latest data released by the agency, the affected population by the weather disturbance surged to 26,221 families or 116,482 persons in 211 villages in five provinces. Meanwhile, at least 17,000 houses were reportedly damaged in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Cagayan and Apayao. The total cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture in Northern Philippine Regions of I and II rose to 24.3 million pesos (about 0.56 million U.S. dollars). Typhoon Krosa has impacted the northern part of the Philippines since last Thursday. It pulled away from the country on Friday as it headed in a westerly direction toward Vietnam.