Evacuees crowd a temporary evacuation center in suburban San Mateo, east of Manila, Philippines Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. AP
MANILA, Philippines – The affected persons from monsoon rains enhanced by tropical storm “Maring” (international name Trami) ballooned to 1.7 million in its aftermath, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Thursday.
The number of affected persons reached 1,754,076 in 16 provinces of Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, MImaropa, Cordillera and National Capital Region, the NDRRMC said.
The torrential rains in the past few days battered six regions of Luzon: Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Cordillera and the NCR.
Displaced persons were at about 560,000, with some 217,000 housed in 718 shelters. The number of shelters increased by nine due to belated reports.
The rest of evacuees opted to stay in houses of relatives, NDRRMC spokesman Major Rey Balido said at a press briefing.
Hardest hit was Central Luzon, with 1.03 million people affected.
Number of impassable roads in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Bicol, Cordillera and NCR also went down from 72 to 63.
The government’s relief assistance also went up to about P24 million.
Death toll was now at 18, with 4 missing and 31 injured. The new fatality was identified as Arzay Josue, 22 from Bacoor who reportedly drowned, Balido said.
Damages to infrastructure and agriculture in parts of Luzon increased to P78 million in Ilocos, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Cordillera.
The storm wreaked havoc and placed several areas under state of calamity including the provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal; cities of Paranaque, Muntinlupa, Malabon, Marikina, Pasay; Candon City in Ilocos Sur; Dagupan City in Pangasinan and Tarlac City; municipalities of Pateros; Narvacan, Gregorio del Pilar and Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur; Sta Barbara and Calasiao, Pangasinan; Obando and Hagonoy, Bulacan; Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; villages of Victoria, Lagnas and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro.
“Maring,” the 13th storm to hit the country this year damaged vast agricultural lands and infrastructures in many parts of Luzon.
Originally posted at 1:31 p.m.