‘Falcon’ death toll now 8; Luzon damage P563.7 M

MANILA, Philippines— The death toll from Tropical Storm Falcon rose to eight on Saturday with the recovery of the body of a 57-year-old man who had drowned in the Cordillera, disaster management officials said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 12 other person remained missing in the aftermath of Falcon’s heavy rains, which flooded large areas in Central Luzon, Metro Manila and other places.

In Central Luzon, total economic damage was estimated at P563.7 million, with over P500 million lost in agriculture, an updated situation report by the NDRRMC said.

The agency said Falcon affected more than 1.7 million persons in 91 towns and 21 cities in 12 provinces. Of the total, 549 families are still housed in 18 evacuation centers, the NDRRMC said.

In Metro Manila, there are still 58 families in five evacuation centers, mostly in the Camanava area.

In its update, NDRRMC identified the latest fatality as Vicente Yossayos, previously reported missing until he was found in Mountain Province.