(UPDATE) ‘Helen,’ now typhoon, leaves 2 dead

20,000 persons affected By Joel Guinto INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines -- The storm tagged "Helen" (international codename: Kalmaegi) strengthened into a typhoon as it blew farther away from the country, leaving two people dead and close to 20,000 affected by floods. One victim, 20-year-old Jonathan Dulay, was killed when the dump truck he was driving fell of a ravine in Talubin village, Bontoc town, amid heavy rains, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported. The other fatality, 22-year-old Alex Lacamento, died after he was bitten by a snake while herding his cows to safety in Paoay town, Ilocos Norte province, the NDCC said. A total of 19,150 people were affected by floods in 82 villages in nine municipalities in the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions, most of them seeking refuge in the homes of relatives... [read full story]