The non-stop rains brought by southwest monsoon (habagat) have already affected more than 200,000 individuals in six regions, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Monday, July 26.
In a situational report, NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said 50,676 families or 202,213 individuals were affected by the monsoon rains in 480 barangays in the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Central Luzon (Region 3), CALABARZON (Region 4A), MIMAROPA (Region 4B), and Western Visayas (Region 6).
Habagat rains caused 244 flooding incidents and 42 landslides in the six affected regions.
Due to the widespread flood and landslides, a total of 10,242 families or 38,472 individuals evacuated from their homes and were staying in 365 evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, 7,374 families or 33,767 individuals were being assisted by the regional DRRMCs outside the evacuation centers. These were the affected persons who fled their houses and opted to stay in their relatives or friends' shelters.
Jalad said some P2.9 million worth of assistance were already provided in the affected areas, including the distribution of 5,143 family food packs in the evacuation centers.
Casualty count
In a television interview, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Spokesperson Mark Timbal clarified that there was only one validated death and two injuries that they have recorded related to the monsoon rains.
The validated casualties include 39-year-old Esmeralda Suriaga who was killed after being pinned to death while inside a taxi on Kennon Road, Baguio City last Friday.
Suriaga was accompanied by two other passengers -- a 63-year-old man and 29-year-old man -- who both sustained injuries.
Timbal said two other deaths reported in Ilocos Norte were being validated by the NDRRMC.
"Sa ngayon po, atin pa pong inaantay ang kumpletong report dyan (Right now, were are still awaiting for the complete report of that incident)," he said.
On Sunday, Jalad bared that the two other fatalities were killed after being struck by a lightning in Pinili, Ilocos Norte last Saturday. They were described as a 35-year-old man and a 15-year old teenage boy.
Three others were also hurt in the said lightning incident.
Agri-infra damages
According to Timbal, 572 houses and 125 infrastructures were destroyed by the rains and punishing winds. There were also 104.6 hectares of crops and 114 units of livestock and poultry that were submerged in floodwater.
The total damage to infrastructure and agriculture were P2.4 million and P102 million, respectively.
Timbal said they were conducting an assessment if the damages to agriculture will affect the food supply in the country.
"The assessment is on-going. There will be adjustments in the figures and its effects to the food supply will be determined once is finished. But right now, we still have enough supplies to address the needs of our countrymen," the OCD spokesperson stated.
Power interruption
Due to strong winds, communication lines were also interrupted due to a number of electric posts that were toppled.
Timbal said 26 municipalities and cities experienced power interruption at the height of the bad weather during the weekend.
"Right now, 23 areas have already restored their electricity while the three other areas are still fixing their power supply," he noted.