Death toll from heavy rains spawned by LPA, shear line, ‘amihan’ climbs to 28

This handout photo taken on January 11, 2023 and received from Jipapad Mayor Benjamin Ver shows residents wading through a flooded road in Jipapad town, Eastern Samar province. At least 11 people have died in storms across the Philippines in the past week, with more heavy rain expected in already sodden regions of the disaster-prone country, authorities said on January 10. (Photo by Handout / MAYOR BENJAMIN VER / AFP) /

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll from heavy rains caused by the combined effects of recent low-pressure areas (LPAs), shear line and northeast monsoon, locally known as “amihan,” has risen to 28, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (Ndrrmc).

In its 6 a.m. situational report on Monday, the Ndrrmc said eight of the deaths were reported in the Zamboanga Peninsula, while there were seven casualties each recorded in Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

Five deaths were logged in the Bicol Region, and the remaining one was in the Davao Region.

The Ndrrmc also reported 11 injured individuals, while three others remain missing.

The council further noted that a total of 1.397 million Filipinos, or 347,105 families, have been affected by the said weather systems.

Ndrrmc said the cost of agricultural damage has climbed to P274 million, affecting more than 12,215 farmers, while damage to infrastructure now stands at nearly P172 million.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration earlier said the LPA and shear line will still bring rains over Metro Manila, Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), Bicol Region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon).

Rain will pour in Batanes, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region and Ilocos Region due to the northeast monsoon.

JMS/abc