5 dead, 6 hurt due to effects of Habagat —NDRRMC

The death toll from the effects of Southwest Monsoon or Habagat climbed to five, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Friday.

In its latest update, the NDRRMC identified the latest reported fatality as an 18-year-old male from Ibaan, Batangas, who died due to drowning.

A 39-year-old female from Camp 8, Kennon Road in Baguio City died in a vehicular accident involving a fallen tree on July 23.

Reports on the three other fatalities are still awaiting validation, the NDRRMC noted.

Three persons were reported injured due to the bad weather, including a 63-year-old male and a 29-year-old male in the July 23 vehicular accident.

A 29-year-old male was also injured after a branch of a tree fell on him in the same city, it added.

There are three more reported injured people that the NDRRMC is still validating.

Due to the effects of Habagat, the NDRRMC said Masantol and Macabebe in Pampanga already declared a state of calamity effective on July 26 and 28, respectively.

As of Friday, the NDRRMC said a total of 556,823 people or 164,877 families were affected by the effects of Habagat in 321 barangays.

At least 9,702 individuals or 2,517 were staying inside 138 evacuation centers, while 34,414 people or 25,094 families were taking shelters outside evacuation facilities.

Affected regions were Central Luzon, Mimaropa, and the National Capital Region, according to the NDRRMC.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, state weather bureau PAGASA said light to moderate with at times heavy rains are expected over some parts of Luzon in the next 24 hours due to the Habagat.

These weather conditions will be experienced over Ilocos Region, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga in the next 24 hours.

PAGASA also warned of possible scattered to widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides in areas experiencing heavy rainfall or prolonged downpour, or in areas prone to such hazards. —LBG, GMA News