Phillippines Archives - Lokmarg

World War II Ship Found After 80 Years

By LokMarg 23rd April 2023

A Japanese transport ship that sank during World War II with over 1,000 people on board has finally been found, reported Voice of America.

The wreck of Montevideo Maru, the Japanese ship, was carrying 850 prisoners of war and about 200 civilians, who were captured by the Japanese in Papua New Guinea in 1942. Not knowing, who was there on the ship, the ship was torpedoed by the USS Sturgeon, an American submarine.
Its sinking was initially heralded as a success by Allied forces before the identity of most of those onboard was finally revealed.

The wreck was found earlier this week in the South China Sea off the Philippines. The mission was a combined effort of the Australian Defense Department, marine archaeologists from Australia’s Silentworld Foundation, and experts from the Dutch deep-sea survey company Fugro.

The search operation started earlier this month off the coast of the Philippines. Within two weeks, the positive sighting of the Montevideo Maru was made before the identity of the vessel was officially verified. It was the culmination of years of research and preparation by the search team.

According to VoA, almost 1,000 Australians died in the disaster.

The wreck was discovered on a mission put together by the Silentworld Foundation, which is dedicated to maritime archaeology and history and Fugro with support from Australia’s Department of Defense.

The tragedy affected more than a dozen countries. There were victims from Denmark, New Zealand and the United States as well as Japan.

No items or human remains will be removed from the Montevideo Maru, reported VoA.

Reacting to the new discovery, Richard Marles Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, tweeted, “For more than 80 years, hundreds of Australian families have waited for news of the Montevideo Maru. This week, thanks to an extraordinary search effort, the ship’s final resting place has been discovered.”

“The 850 Australian service members on board were never forgotten. We will remember them,” he added. (ANI)

Philippines Death Toll From Christmas Flood, Rain Rises To 26

By LokMarg 29th December 2022

The death toll from Christmas flood and rain in the Philippines has gone up to 25, Manila Times reported citing the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday.

Northern Mindanao accounted for sixteen fatalities, followed by Bicol with five, Eastern Visayas with two, and Zamboanga city with two.
According to the Disaster Management Council, 26 have been reported missing.

The total number of affected people, or 102,476 families, increased to 393,069 people. Apparently, there are 292 evacuation shelters housing 81,443 people or 20,723 families, Manila Times reported.

The calamity not only wreaked havoc in the country but also pushed more than 45,000 people into evacuation centers for shelter. The fishermen who are reportedly missing went out to sea despite the dangers associated with bad weather, the disaster agency said.

The shear line’s rains caused floods and landslides on Christmas Eve, December 24, affecting nine of the province’s 14 municipalities.

A shear line is an area where warm and cold winds meet and lead to the formation of huge rain clouds, according to the country’s weather bureau, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) which further stated that rain-induced landslides are likely in some areas.

Rescue efforts are still ongoing, and the impact on agriculture is being evaluated. (ANI)

Death Toll From Severe Tropical Storm Paeng Nears 100 In Philippines

By LokMarg 31st October 2022

The fatalities from severe tropical storm Paeng (Nalgae), which battered numerous parts of the Philippines over the weekend, have climbed to 98, the country’s disaster agency reported on Monday.

The death toll from Paeng has reached 98, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, reported Manila Times.
Of the figure, 58 were confirmed and 40 were verified. Meanwhile, 69 people were injured and 63 others were reported missing.

The storm affected 1,812,740 people or 575,728 families in 31,942 villages in 17 regions including Metro Manila, reported Manila Times.

The storm affected 1.8 million Filipinos, including more than 213,000 who sought refuge in evacuation centres.

Damage to infrastructure was estimated at P 757,841,175 in Mimaropa (Mindoro Occidental and Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) in regions 5,6,7,10 and 11.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) placed damage to the agriculture sector at P 285.28 million, reported Manila Times.

The affected areas include Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City).

At least 113,408 hectares of agricultural areas were affected and production loss was placed at 11,761 metric tons.

The DA said 8,608 farmers and fishers were affected.

“Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops and fisheries. Damage has also been incurred in agricultural facilities,” it added.

Damage to fisheries, corn plantations and high-value crops reached P 14.13 million, P 4.19 million and P2 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, damage to agriculture facilities was at P 18.59 million.

The DA said rice, corn and assorted vegetable seeds will be distributed to the affected farmers, while the Bureau Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will distribute fingerlings and assistance to the affected fisherfolk, reported Manila Times.

“Paeng” was estimated at 340 kilometres west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan while moving west-northwestward at 10 kilometres per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph and gustiness of up to 105 kph. (ANI)