ZAMBOANGA CITY, 11 June 2004 — At least six fishermen were reported missing after huge waves and strong winds battered a pair of trawlers in the central Philippines, officials said yesterday.
Two persons were also killed in the onslaught of a storm codenamed “Gener” in the region, Lt. Armand Balilo, spokesman of the Philippine Coast Guard, said.
He said 26 fishermen had been rescued at sea while coast guard ships were still searching for six more. “The operation is going for the six missing fishermen,” he told Arab News.
The fishermen came from the province of Eastern Samar on Samar Island and were trawling in the Leyte Gulf despite the bad weather.
One villager was also killed on Wednesday when he was pinned by debris from fallen houses in Leyte province after strong winds swept a small village. News reports said a tornado hit the province, but this denied yesterday by weather experts, saying, the gusty winds were caused by the typoon.
Philippine military chief Gen. Narciso Abaya ordered troops stationed in the provinces to help local authorities find those who are still missing. Troops were sent to the province to check on areas hardest hit by the storm.
