REPORTED DEATHS from flooding and landslides triggered by torrential rains in central and southern parts of the Philippines since late December has reached 27, based on the national disaster management agency’s report as of Jan. 15.
Of the total, 14 have been confirmed, with six in the Easter Visayas region, five in Zamboanga Peninsula, two in Northern Mindanao, and one in Davao.
The 13 others are still being validated, according to the monitoring report with a starting date of Jan. 1 when weather bureau PAGASA issued a bulletin on an incoming low pressure area (LPA).
Another 11 people were injured while three others remain missing, the report said.
More than 151,300 families or 614,000 individuals have been affected by the continuous downpour. Almost 112,600 people have been displaced, mostly staying in 217 evacuation centers.
A third LPA is currently in the country, located 465 kilometers southeast of Maasin City in Southern Leyte, which is again affecting the same areas inundated since last month due to a shear line, or where rain is formed when cold and warm air converge.
PAGASA weather forecaster Grace Castañeda said on Sunday the latest LPA still has a low possibility of developing into a typhoon, but will bring moderate up to occasional intense rains in southern parts of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
DAMAGE
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) monitoring showed 369 houses have been totally destroyed while 912 were partially damaged.
In public infrastructure, the estimated damage cost hit P171.43 million, including 215 road sections and 54 bridges, and several flood control structures.
The number of affected farmers and fisherfolk has reached 11,741.
Damage to agriculture was estimated at P283.98 million, including livestock, poultry and fisheries as well over 13,451 hectares of crops.
The NDRRMC said P31.63 million worth of assistance from national and local governments have been distributed to affected communities. — MSJ