Death toll in RP flood and landslide incidents rise to 45, NDCC reports

By Ronron
February 28, 2008

The death toll due to the series of flooding and landslide incidents in some parts of the Philippines rose to 45 while eight remain missing as of Thursday evening, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.

In its latest report dated 6PM of February 27, the NDCC said the cost of damages to infrastructure and agriculture has also reached P1.312 billion already, the bigger bulk of which come from Region 5 and 8, while the rest are from Regions 6, 10 and 12.

The NDCC report said 18 died in Region 5, one in Region 6, 18 in Region 8, seven in Region 10, and one in Region 12. The eight missing, meanwhile, come from Region 5 (five persons), Region 8 (two persons), and Region 10 (one person).

There were also 31 injured persons: seven from Sorsogon in Region 5; 15 in Eastern Samar in Region 8; and nine from Lanao del Norte in Region 10.

The victims either drowned, were electrocuted, or covered in landslides, among others.

The flooding and landslide caused by a low pressure area and the persistence of the tail end of cold front, according to the NDCC, have already affected 180,809 families or 873,009 persons, of which, 10,583 families or 41,472 persons are in 112 evacuation centers.

The affected population comes from Regions IV-B, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12.

Some of them were left homeless after 2,001 houses from Regions 4-B, 5, 8 and 10 were totally damaged, and 3,740 partially destroyed by the calamity, said the NDCC.

The NDCC said the flooding and landslides have caused the damage of at least P1.015 billion worth of infrastructure and at least P296 million worth of fisheries, crops and palays in Regions 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12.

Eastern Samar, Albay, Sigma town in Capiz and Magallanes town in Sorsogon remain under a State of Calamity so they could avail of the calamity fund, which is equivalent to five percent of their Internal Revenue Allocation.

So far, the following agencies have already extended their assistance to the affected populace: 1) NDCC, worth P1.574 million, and some 1,725 sacks of rice; 2) Department of Social Welfare and Development, worth P2.680 million; 3) Department of Health, worth P165,389.89; 4) local government units, worth P3.302 million; and, 5) non-governmental organizations, worth P338,462.00./DMS

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Weather Branch chief Nathaniel Cruz said that even if the tail end of cold front will no longer be felt in the country early next month, rains will still be expected until June of this year due to the La Nina phenomenon.

“The tail end of cold front may leave the country but the chances of having rains not only here in Metro Manila but also in other parts of the country, especially in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas will still be there,” Cruz said./DMS