Opong claims life of young student journalist in Masbate

Sixteen-year-old Brian Bolaño died in Masbate after a concrete wall collapsed onto his bedroom during the onslaught of Typhoon Opong.

Authorities said the wall came from a neighboring house that had been gutted by fire, weakening the structure until it gave way under the storm.

The victim was inside their concrete home when the incident happened past 4:00 a.m.

His father, Emmanuel Bolaño, a firefighter with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Masbate, was on duty responding to typhoon-hit residents when the accident occurred.

Brian was remembered by classmates and teachers as a young man passionate about art and journalism, serving as the school’s editorial cartoonist while winning awards in poster-making competitions.

Masbate was declared one of the hardest-hit provinces, with widespread damage to houses, power lines, and infrastructure. 

Authorities confirmed at least ten deaths in the province.

More than 8,000 families or 26,000 individuals were affected by Opong in the province, according to the Masbate Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office.

Opong made two landfalls in Masbate, one in the municipality of Palanas at 4 a.m. on Friday, followed by the second landfall over the municipality of Milagros at 5:30 a.m. A total of six landfalls occurred in the country. 

Full power restoration could take up to a month, but the Department of Energy has promised faster assistance.