Ten more people died due to heavy rains and widespread flooding caused by the combined effects of a low pressure area (LPA), northeast monsoon (amihan), and shear line, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Saturday, Jan. 14.
This brought the total count to 20, according to the latest situational report of the NDRRMC.
The reported fatalities were recorded in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) with six deaths; Bicol (Region 5) with five; Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) and Northern Mindanao (Region 10) with four apiece, and Davao Region (Region 11) with one.
Fifteen of the victims died due to drowning while one was found dead by rescuers after suffering an epileptic attack amid rescue efforts. He was identified as 27-year-old Jerry Nino, of San Jose, Camarines Sur.
The cause of death of the other fatalities have yet to be determined.
The rains that have been affecting parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao since Jan. 2 have already affected 133,258 families composed of 552,131 individuals.
They were from Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Region 5, Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Regions 8, 9, 10, 11, Soccksargen (Region 12), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Meanwhile, a total of 15,447 families or 79.,413 individuals were staying in evacuation centers.
The rains and widespread flooding have also cost agricultural damage worth P257 million while infrastructure loss reached P171 million.
Condolence
Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), condoled with the family of the late Corporal Jerry Palacio, a member of the 43rd Infantry Battalion (43rd IB), 8th Infantry Division (8ID).
Palacio drowned while on his way to the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDDRMO) in San Isidro, Northern Samar last Jan. 9 to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operation for flood victims there.
“Truly the sacrifices made by all responders enable to endure the rigors of calamities. Corporal Palacio’s heroism will be an inspiration to OCD and all our disaster managers across the country as we continue to help safeguard communities against disasters,” Nepomuceno said.
The Philippine Army (PA) earlier announced that it will extend all the necessary assistance to the family of Palacio.