Tropical storm leaves at least 4 dead and 6 missing in Philippines

Tropical Storm "Gener" claimed the lives of at least four people as it roared off northeast Luzon and dumped heavy rains on large areas of the country.

Another six were missing, according to disaster officials.

Three of the four fatalities drowned-one each in Cavite, Batangas and Romblon provinces.

The fourth fatality died in Laguna province when a coconut tree fell on his house.

Rains displaced families, destroyed bridges and roads and flooded low-lying areas in southern Luzon, Metro Manila, and central and northern Luzon, reports reaching the Philippine Daily Inquirer said.

A motorboat sank off Batangas province and a ferry ran aground in Looc, Tablas Island.

A combination of low pressure area (LPA) and southwest monsoon, which the weather bureau found "strange," toppled billboards, uprooted trees in the metropolis and nearby areas, and cut off the power supply to Manila Electric Co.'s customers.

Classes and offices were suspended and flights were canceled and diverted from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

As of 2:30 p.m. Monday, Malacañang suspended classes in all colleges and universities in Metro Manila. The Palace also suspended work in government offices in the metropolis.

Due to bad weather, at least eight domestic flights were canceled and 12 other flights were diverted to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

Uprooted trees in Mckinley Hills in Taguig City, Hemady Avenue in Quezon City and Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City kept Metropolitan Manila Development Authority personnel busy as they removed tree trunks away from the roads to ease the traffic flow.