MANILA (Bernama-PNA): The southwest monsoon, intensified by three tropical cyclones – Mirasol, Nando, and Opong – has killed 26 people and affected nearly 2.8 million across the country, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported, citing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday.
A total of 738,714 families, or 2,797,706 individuals, have been affected by days of torrential rain, floods, and landslides triggered by the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Of the affected population, 46,611 families, or 163,317 persons, are in 2,680 evacuation centres, while 31,448 families, or 118,957 individuals, are being assisted outside evacuation sites.
The NDRRMC said 26 people have died, 33 were injured, and 14 remain missing.
Most of the fatalities were recorded in Cagayan Valley (8) and Bicol Region (9).
The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) recorded four deaths, Central Luzon and Central Visayas two each, and Eastern Visayas one.
However, 22 of the fatalities are still for validation, while four have been confirmed, according to the NDRRMC.
At least 8,916 houses sustained damage across Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, CAR, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Damage to agriculture has exceeded PHP 1 billion, while destruction to infrastructure was estimated at PHP 864,109,901.08 in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, CAR, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, and Western and Central Visayas.
Meanwhile, government assistance worth PHP 137,597,235.49 has been extended to 149,675 families through concerned national agencies and local government units. – Bernama/PNA
