9 dead, 1 missing, 2 injured as Tropical Storm Dante exits PAR

Floodwaters rise in the village of Los Angeles in Butuan City as Tropical Storm Dante (international name: Choi-wan) dumped heavy rains in Agusan del Norte and other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. (ERWIN M. MASCARIÑAS)

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Dante (international name: Choi-wan) has so far left nine individuals dead, one missing, and two injured, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Saturday, citing reports from regional offices of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the Mimaropa region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao and Soccsksargen regions.

Dante, which has since weakened into a tropical depression, exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday morning, the state weather bureau said.

Over 90,000 displaced

Meanwhile, a total of 93,683 persons or 22,389 families were reported to have been displaced by the weather disturbance.

The families are from 279 barangays in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga regions.

A total of 732 families or 2,753 persons are currently in 50 evacuation centers, the NDRRMC said.

Stranded

A total of 2,085 passengers, meanwhile, were stranded in ports in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga regions, along with 691 rolling cargoes, 46 vessels and 4 MBCAs.

Infra damage

NDRRMC said 81 houses were damaged in Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Davao regions.

Total damage to agriculture was estimated at about P86.1 million in Central Luzon, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Davao region, Soccsksargen, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Caraga regions.

 Damage to infrastructure, meanwhile, amounted to about P53.7 million in several regions.

NDRRMC said the Department of Social Welfare and Development, along with local government units, have so far provided P1.9 million worth of assistance to affected families in Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen and Caraga regions. 

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