‘Pedring’ leaves 35 dead, P1.1B in damages to crops, property—NDRRMC

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Pedring (international name: Nesat) left 35 dead and P1.147 billion in damages to property and agriculture, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Thursday.

All the deaths occurred in Luzon, seven of them in Metro Manila (in the Camanava area), 12 in Central Luzon, and five in the Bicol Region, the NDDRMC said.

Meanwhile, 31 were injured, 45 missing, mostly fishermen lost at sea, and 115 were rescued after their boats capsized off the coasts of various places, the NDRRMC said.

The NDRRMC also said that Pedring has affected 103,582  families (489,849 persons) in 31 provinces across Luzon, the NDRRMC said.

A total of 184,446 persons (39,579 families) are currently being served inside and outside evacuation centers, it added.

More than 400 persons remain stranded in the ports of Pasacao, Mamburao, Batangas and Aparri; 41 rolling cargoes in Batangas and Mamburao and 2 motorbancas in Maburao were still stuck, the NDRRMC said.

Agriculture took the brunt of the damage. Pedring destroyed P1.027 billion in crops, livestock and fisheries. Some P992 million worth of rice and corn was wiped out, the NDRRMC said.

In infrastructure, damage from the typhoon reached more than P120 million, particularly in schools, roads and bridges.

Destroyed bricks are scattered at the Baywalk along Roxas Boulevard in Manila on Wednesday, a day after Typhoon ‘Pedring’ smashed a large section of the seawall. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER PHOTO

Region 3, or Central Luzon, was most severely affected, with losses of up to P948 million. Region 5, or Bicol, followed with nearly P150 million in damage, while the Cordilllera Administrative Region was third, with over P12 million lost to the storm.

As of 6 a.m. Thursday, 17 bridges and 44 road sections were still reported impassable across Luzon, it said.

However, only 2.18 percent of Meralco customers remained without power. The NDRRMC said the remaining figures were due to isolated segments and lateral portions of the lines.

Combined resources from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, local government units and non-governmental organizations provided about P14 million worth of assistance, it also said.