The death toll from former Tropical Cyclone “Basyang” has climbed to eight, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported early Saturday, as authorities continue validating fatalities linked to landslides and drowning across Northern Mindanao (Region 10) and Caraga (Region 13).

In its update as of 12:00 a.m., the OCD said three deaths were reported in Iligan City by Mayor Frederick Siao but the cause was still for verification.

The OCD also logged one death by drowning in Agusan del Norte.

Earlier, a family of four – including a couple, a 13-year-old, and an 11-month-old child – died in a a landslide in Cagayan de Oro City.

OCD deputy spokesperson Diego Mariano said all the reported fatalities were still “for validation.”

Basyang, which has since weakened to a low pressure area (LPA), affected 64,360 families or 232,550 persons in 517 barangays in Region 13, Western Visayas (Region 6), Negros Island Region (NIR), and Central Visayas (Region 7). The affected provinces include Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Butuan City, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Negros Oriental.

Of these, 16,528 families or 53,983 persons were staying inside 480 evacuation centers while 4,489 families or 16,807 persons were taking shelter at their relatives or friends’ homes.

The OCD said 9,532 families or 31,981 persons were also pre-emptively evacuated across Regions 7, 13, and NIR as heavy rains and flooding threatened low-lying and landslide-prone areas.

In Region 13, floodwaters have started to recede in 30 barangays in Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte but access remains a concern. Three road sections and two bridges in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur were not passable, limiting movement and relief operations.

Power interruptions were recorded in 14 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Surigao del Sur. Electricity has been restored in nine areas while five remain without power, based on data from local electric cooperatives.

Maritime travel also took a hit as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) monitored 73 affected seaports as of 4 a.m., with operations either suspended or trips cancelled.

This left 7,457 passengers, 2,558 rolling cargoes, 130 vessels, and six motorbancas stranded across Northeastern Mindanao, Southwestern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Central Visayas, Southern Visayas, Western Visayas, and Southern Tagalog.

Damage to infrastructure remains limited as disaster officials await clearing operations and initial assessment after Basyang’s wrath.

Initial estimates showed six houses were partially damaged in the municipalities of Barobo, Cortes, Lanuza, Lianga, and Marihatag in Surigao del Sur, placing the cost of damage to P65,000.

Meanwhile, as of this writing, a total of P6.5 million worth of assistance has been distributed to 10,083 families in need, according to the OCD.

Distributed relief assistance included rice, food packs, and ready-to-eat food among others.