A tropical storm blew across the central Philippines on Wednesday, leaving at least six people dead, including four fishermen whose motorboat was destroyed by a tornado, officials said. The storm, packing sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour, first struck eastern Samar province Tuesday and by Wednesday was roaring westward over the central Philippines toward the South China Sea. Nearly 3,500 people were stranded aboard more than 560 ferries and motor boats, which were ordered to stay docked for safety, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said. In mountainous Quezon province, southeast of Manila, a tornado struck a fishing boat that had taken cover in a cove, killing four fishermen and injuring two others late Tuesday. All six were sleeping on the boat near the municipality of Perez when the tornado hit, Mayor Pepito Reyes said. Roberto Longaza, Ruben Rajas, Boyet Drias and Ryan Brogada died when the motorboat was hit by a tornado while docked at Barangay Sanguirin in Perez town early dawn Wednesday, Reyes said. The tornado also ripped off the roofs of two houses before dissipating near a forested mountain, he said. “The twister lifted the boat and hurled it back into the waters, pinning and drowning the fishermen,” Reyes said by telephone. Two people drowned in Cebu province Tuesday. Huge waves and strong winds battered and overturned a passenger boat off central Mactan Island Tuesday. Coast guard ships rescued all 14 aboard, officials said. Eleven people, including five fishermen, disappeared in floodwaters and rough seas in Samar and nearby regions, disaster-response officials said. A four-year-old child was swept by floods in Romblon province. Classes were suspended as the storm flooded and knocked out power in several villages in central provinces and in Manila, officials said. The typhoon, locally codenamed Feria and internationally named Nangka, is the sixth to hit the Philippines this year.
