KRISTINE’S FURY Heavy rains and strong winds brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine trigger a landslide and massive flooding on the riverside of Barangay San Francisco, Guinobatan, in Albay, forcing many residents to flee to evacuation centers.
—PHOTOS BY MARK ALVIC ESPLANA
MANILA, Philippines — Over 2.3 million individuals nationwide were affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international: Trami), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Thursday night.
Based on its 8 p.m. situational report, NDRRMC reported that 2,363,070 persons or 494 families were affected by the inclement weather or flooding brought about by Krisine in 2,530 barangays across the country.
Of the affected individuals, 254,189 were displaced — 193,366 are staying inside over 5,097 evacuation centers, while 60,823 took shelter elsewhere.
READ: PNP validates 20 deaths due to Kristine-induced floods in Bicol
Earlier, the Bicol police reported that 20 people have reportedly died in the region due to Kristine. These deaths, however, are still up for validation.
Police also reported nine individuals sustained injuries, while four were missing.
READ: Kristine maintains strength as it travels over Ilocos Sur – Pagasa
Aside from these, NDRRMC also monitored 253 flooded areas in Region 1 (Ilocos), Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Region 5 (Bicol), Region 6 (Western Visayas), Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), and Region 12 (Soccsksargen).
So far, the government has rolled out a total of P49,256,602 worth of assistance to the affected families.
Based on the state weather bureau’s 8 p.m. bulletin, Kristine is now over the coastal waters of Bacnotan, La Union.
It is moving westward slowly, carrying maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) with gusts of up to 145 kph.