More than 21,000 people were preemptively evacuated in Caraga region alone due to heavy rains and flooding brought by the combined effects of a shear line and tropical depression “Kabayan” in Mindanao and some parts of the Visayas.
In a report released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday, Dec. 19, it said a total of 6,566 composed of 21,660 individuals were transferred to safer places in Caraga region while 344 other families composed of 1,035 families were also preemptively evacuated in Central and Eastern Visayas regions, and Northern and Davao regions.
The evacuated individuals were among the more than 85,000 people affected by the weather disturbance since the weekend.
In the same report, the NDRRMC said there was one person reported missing in Davao region and another one reported injured, but the agency said the two reported casualties are yet to be validated.
“Kabayan” entered the country’s area of responsibility on Sunday, Dec. 17 and brought heavy rains in Mindanao and Visayas since then. Storm signals were hoisted over some parts of Mindanao.
The NDRRMC said its personnel on the ground are still conducting assessment on the effects of the weather disturbance.
But it said assistance package were already distributed and and placed on standby in various affected areas of Visayas and Mindanao, especially in Caraga region where the number of displaced and affected persons is high.