‘Cosme’ death toll up, 35,000 homeless--NDCC

MANILA, Philippines -- The death toll in the aftermath of tropical storm "Cosme" (international codename: Halong) rose to 12, while nine others were injured and close to 35,000 were displaced by floods, landslides, and storm surge, the National Disaster Coordinating Council reported on Monday.

Five of the fatalities were hit by galvanized iron roof sheets that were blown away by the strong winds, four died due to drowning, one was hit by a collapsed concrete wall, one was hit by rocks while excavating water supply and one suffered a heart attack, the NDCC said.

The storm also downed power and communication lines. As of 8 p.m.
Sunday, the entire Zambales province was without power, the NDCC said.