6 reported dead, 19 missing due to Christmas Day rains, floods —NDRRMC

Six people were reported dead and 19 were missing after rains inundated parts of the Visayas and Mindanao on Christmas Day, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Monday.

In its 11 a.m. report, the NDRRMC said four of the fatalities were reported in Misamis Occidental in Northern Mindanao and two Camarines Sur in Bicol. All are drowning victims, it added.

As of the missing, the NDRRMC said 10 were reported in Bicol, six in Eastern Visayas, and three in Northern Mindanao.

At least three people were also reported injured, the NDRRMC said.

The rain-triggered floods dampened celebrations on the mainly Catholic nation's most important holiday.

"The waters rose above the chest in some areas, but today the rains have ceased," civil defence worker Robinson Lacre told Agence France-Presse by phone from Gingoog city.

According to the NDRRMC, a total of 100,691 people or 23,762 families were affected by the bad weather caused by the shear line in 262 barangays in Mimaropa, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, and Northern Mindanao.

Of the affected population, 44,672 individuals or 9,216 families were staying in evacuation centers, while 35 persons or seven families were taking shelter in other places.

Power supply issues were experienced in 36 cities and municipalities, the NDRRMC said, adding water supply was also interrupted in three areas.

At least 48 houses were reported damaged — 27 partially and 21 totally.

So far, the NDRRMC said a total of P2,038,743.29 worth of assistance have been provided to the victims affected by the bad weather.

Initial damage

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said the initial estimated damage to agriculture is now at P52, 729,614. Most of the damage was monitored in Region 5 where the flood destroyed irrigation and plants.

For the infrastructure sector, the OCD said it received reports that the damage  stands at P5,280,000, of which P280,000 were recorded in Region 10.

OCD joint information head Diego Mariano said the total economic damage would depend if the shear line would continue to trigger serious rains in the affected regions.

"‘Yung mga reports ay pumpasok pa rin as we speak lalo na kung tuloy tuloy pa rin ang pananalasa nitong shear line. More or less mayroon pa ring reports diyan either madagdagan or mabawasan," he said in an interview over GTV's Balitanghali.

(The reports are continuously coming in as we speak. More or less there will be additional updates. The figure may increase or decrease depending on it.)

The Visayas and Mindanao have been hit with bad weather as many began a long Christmas holiday. Millions of people travel to their hometowns for family reunions during this period.

The Philippine Coast Guard also said strong winds and big waves sank a fishing boat on Christmas Day off the coast of Leyte. Two crew members were killed while six others were rescued.

The Philippines is ranked among the most vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change.

Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer. —with Agence France-Presse/Sundy Locus/KBK/AOL, GMA Integrated News