2 died, 2 injured as tropical storm Cimaron hits Philippines

Tropical storm Cimaron, locally known as Isang, killed two children and injured two adults before it left Philippines' area of responsibility, the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Friday.

In the latest report released Friday afternoon, NDRRMC executive director and concurrent Office of Civil Defense administrator Eduardo del Rosario named the fatalities as Rhea Jane Maseliones, 8, and Raymund Jay Maseliones, 11. The two injured were Evelyn Cabarsi, 31 and Elejo Cabarsi, 23.

Del Rosario said the fatalities and the injured were all caused by a lightning that struck Farola village in Bantay town in Northern Philippine province of Ilocos Sur last Wednesday at around 9:10 p.m.

According to the report, Cimaron also made a landfall in Northern Philippine province of Isabela last Wednesday and left the country the following day.

Meanwhile, authorities in Northern Luzon are still searching the 30 fishermen from Infanta, Pangasinan who have yet to return home after going on fishing last week. Initial efforts by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy have been so far unsuccessful.