Drowning was no. 1 cause of death during ‘Gener’ and monsoon rains–NDRRMC

MANILA, Philippines — More than half of fatalities from the rains spawned by typhoon Gener combined with the southwest monsoon were due to drowning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said Monday.

As of latest, death toll from Gener has reached 50, with 30 of which were from drowning, 11 from fallen trees and the rest were either from landslides or electrocution.

Affected persons in regions of Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Bicol, Central and Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen, Cordillera and National Capital region were at 193,682 families or 868,799 persons. Displaced were 51,244 families or 236,226 persons, it added.

Gener’s wrath also cost almost P340 million of damages to infrastructure and agriculture.

There were also 8,443 recorded damaged houses, with 1,246 totally damaged. The 6,609 houses were partially damaged, mostly from Calabarzon, Western Visayas and NCR, the NDRRMC said.

As of Monday morning, flooding were also reported in Valenzuela, Malabon and Quezon City which prompted evacuation of nearly 2,000 families.

Meanwhile, the local government units, non-government organizations, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Developmentbrelease a total amount of about P17.8 million worth of relief assistance.

Typhoon Gener made its way out of the Philippine territory late last week, but incessant rains continued due to southwest monsoon.