Reported death toll due to inclement weather rises to 17 —NDRRMC

The reported death toll due to the inclement weather since January 2 has risen to 17, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday.

In its 6 a.m. report, the NDRRMC said five of the fatalities were reported in Bicol, four each in Zamboanga and Northern Mindanao, three in Eastern Visayas, and one in Davao.

Only four of the reported deaths have been confirmed so far, the NDRRMC said.

"Karamihan po ng cause of death po natin ay drowning [Most of the reported fatalities were due to drowning],” Office of Civil Defense Joint Information Center head Diego Agustin Mariano said on Unang Balita.

Two people are still reported missing, while seven were reported injured, according to the NDRRMC.

Weather specialists are blaming the recent heavy rains to low pressure areas, shear line, and northeast monsoons.

A total of 523,991 people or 121,950 families were affected in Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Of the affected population, 70,617 persons or 13,238 families were staying in 123 evacuation centers while 825 individuals or 218 families were taking shelter in other places.

Mariano said the regions with the most number of flooded areas were Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Zamboanga. At least 307 areas are still flooded, according to the NDRRMC.

A total of 31 landslides incidents were recorded due to the inclement weather, the NDRRMC said.

At least 530 houses were reported damaged — 373 partially and 157 totally.

Damage to agriculture worth P252,698,531 and to infrastructure worth P165,745,496 were reported due to the impact of the inclement weather. The National Irrigation Administration reported P25,610,000 worth of damage.

State of calamity was declared in San Miguel, Leyte; Dolores, Eastern Samar; Gandara and Basey, Samar; and Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

According to a report of GMA Regional TV One Mindanao’s Efren Mamac on Unang Balita, state of calamity was also declared in Zamboanga City where over 28,000 people were affected by the floods that hit at least 38 barangays.

Some learning materials in Baliwasan Elementary School were damaged due to the flood.

Many houses were submerged in flood in Acacia Drive in Barangay Calarian and the flood reached waist-deep in Sto. Niño Village in Barangay Putik, which prompted the residents to evacuate.

Assistance worth P30,983,980 was provided to the victims, the NDRRMC said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News