Phillipines
© Google Maps
Tropical Storm 'Ofel' (international name: Son-Tinh) left at least eight people dead and nine missing on Friday before heading away from the country's area of responsibility toward Vietnam and southern China.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Benito Ramos said the fatalities included an 88-year-old woman who allegedly died of hypothermia and 77-year-old man hit by a falling tree, both in the central Philippines.

NDRRMC reported three persons drowned in separate incidents, two children killed by a falling tree and a girl buried in a landslide in separate incidents in the central and southern Philippines.

Two of the fatalities were identified as Rigel Saycon from Cebu City and Roberto Manongsong from Batangas City who both drowned.

A certain Olive Luna of Oriental Mindoro was also reported dead while Solustiano Fabellon, 77, of Romblon was hit by a fallen tree.

More than 30,000 people stranded at seaports and airports were expected to resume their journeys after storm warnings were lifted Friday and floodwaters began subsiding.

In Tulunan town, North Cotabato, torrential rains continued to lash low-lying villages, killing a 70-year-old woman.

Senior Inspector Ronnie Cordero, chief of Tulunan police, identified the victim as Delia Katel of Sitio Sambulawan in Barangay Bacung.

Katel was washed away by raging waters in Tulunan River when she tried to flee from her house, said Cordero.

At least 30 houses in Bacung, mostly made of light materials, were damaged by gushing waters from the swollen river.

Rescue teams were sent to the area to locate the two residents identified as John Rey Barrientos and Bonifacio Karan who went missing after they were also swept by raging flood waters on Thursday.

Social welfare employees in Tulunan town were also dispatched to the area to distribute relief items to flood victims.

Waist deep floodwaters also destroyed rice and corn fields and houses in nearby villages.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Tropical Storm Ofel entered the country early Wednesday. It was located about 570 kilometers (360 miles) west of northern Zambales province late Friday afternoon.

It also gained strength as it moved westward at 22 kilometers (14 miles) per hour with winds of 85 kilometers per hour (53 mph) and maximum winds of 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph).

Weather forecaster Fernando Cada said it could hit the northern coast of Vietnam by Sunday based on its current speed.