Combined death toll of ‘Kabayan,’ ‘Juaning’ reaches 70–NDRRMC

MANILA, Philippines—Typhoon “Kabayan” (international name: Muifa) and tropical storm “Juaning” (international name: Nock-ten) left a total of 70 persons dead while nearly a million persons were affected by the continual rains the two weather disturbances have brought, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday.

In its latest situation report, the NDRRMC said that as of Tuesday morning, Juaning has left 66 persons dead while Kabayan has killed four others. The latest tally includes the bodies of the fishermen recovered in Masbate Monday.

The NDRRMC said the number of affected families had risen to 195,196 families, or 981,166 persons. These are in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4a, 5, 10, the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Meanwhile, estimated damages to infrastructure and agriculture due to Juaning have reached P1.76 million while the number of damaged houses due to the tropical storm has reached 6,221.

Initial estimated damages due to Kabayan, on the other hand, have been reported at P2.5 million.

Juaning made a landfall Wednesday last week and exited Philippine territory Thursday afternoon.

Kabayan, meanwhile, was seen 1,140 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said, adding that the weather disturbance is too far to affect the country. However, Kabayan is expected to enhance further the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Luzon, which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

Classes were suspended in preschool, elementary and high-school levels in Metro Manila and parts of Region 4A, particularly in Calamba City in Laguna, as well as in Rodriguez and San Mateo in Rizal on Tuesday. Rosario Elementary School in Rosario, Cavite, likewise suspended classes.

The Palace also ordered that afternoon classes in the tertiary level in Metro Manila be suspended around noon Tuesday. Government employees in the Metro Manila  were likewise allowed to go home noon due to inclement weather.

Kabayan was forecast to move north northwestward at 11 kph.

By Wednesday morning, Kabayan was forecast to be 990 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes, and by Thursday morning, 785 km north northeast of Basco, batanes or 170 km southeast of Okinawa, Japan.