MANILA, Philippines—Initial cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture due to typhoon “Pedring” (international name: Nesat) skyrocketed to nearly P1 billion by Wednesday early afternoon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
The NDRRMC said that as of 2 pm, damage to agriculture reached more than P912 million while damages to infrastructure spiked to P72.6 million.
The NDRRMC added the death toll climbed to 21 with the addiction of Rica Mae Hatitay of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Earlier, the NDRRMC confirmed the death of Maricel Bustamante of of Sual, Pangasinan who died after their house was crushed by a fallen tree Tuesday evening and Tanya Balong of Angadanan, Isabela who died after drowning in Cagayan River.
Bustamante’s husband, Darwin, was also injured and was taken to the Alamino District Hospital.
Meanwhile 25 persons were reported injured while 33 others, mostly fishermen, remain missing. Authorities have also rescued 112 persons, the NDRRMC said.
A total of 993 houses were totally damaged due to Pedring while 3,950 homes were partially damaged.
At least 61 road sections in provinces in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, the National Capital Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region remain impassable due to various flooding and landslide incidents, the NDRRMC reported.