Opong leaves 9 dead in Bicol, 12 missing in Eastern Visayas – NDRRMC
HOMELESS. Severe Tropical Storm Opong left a trail of destruction in Sitio Licuson, Barangay Luyong Catungan, Mobo, Masbate, on Friday, damaging and destroying homes, including one belonging to a resident. — MOBO MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Nine people were reported dead in the Bicol Region, while 12 remain missing in Eastern Visayas following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Opong, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Monday.
The fatalities in Bicol and the missing count in Eastern Visayas topped the 27 deaths and 16 missing reported in the NDRRMC’s accumulated data of casualties from Opong and previous tropical cyclones Mirasol and Nando.
READ: Opong, Mirasol, Nando, habagat kill 26 – NDRRMC
Opong began affecting Bicol and Eastern Visayas on Friday, toppling trees, tearing off roofs, and causing storm surges and flash floods.
The NDRRMC released on Friday the accumulated data on casualties and damage from Opong and past tropical cyclones Mirasol and Nando.
However, Office of Civil Defense Assistant Secretary Rafael Alejandro IV clarified that the death toll at that time had not yet included fatalities from Opong. The death toll from the Bicol Region was only reflected in Saturday’s situation report.
READ: Severe Tropical Storm Opong kills three in Bicol – OCD
Of the 27 deaths, eight were reported in Cagayan Valley, four in the Cordillera Administrative Region, two each in Central Luzon and Central Visayas, and one each in Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) and Eastern Visayas, all due to the three weather disturbances.
Most of the 14 missing individuals were in Eastern Visayas, but two remain unaccounted for in Mimaropa, and one each in the Bicol Region and Western Visayas have yet to be found.
Meanwhile, 33 people were reported injured due to Opong and the previous cyclones.
Damage to agriculture was estimated at P1 billion, while destruction to infrastructure was pegged at P979 million from Mirasol, Nando, and Opong./mcm
