Habagat deaths rise to 7; affected exceed 150,000 — NDRRMC

Children watch television in the evacuation center at the Malanday Elementary School in Marikina City,
where they and their parents evacuated to seek shelter from nearly incessant heavy rain brought by the habagat, or southwest monsoon. RICHARD A. REYES / PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

Deaths due to monsoon rain have gone up to seven with about 150,000 people affected, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Tuesday.

The additional two deaths were reported in Quezon and Palawan. Both fatalities reportedly drowned.

Previous fatalities were identified as Benedicto Brasileno, 68, of Iloilo; Jonel Fernandez, 11, of Sampaloc, Manila; Mary Hope Berina, 14, of Manila; Argilyn Hoyce Gonzales, 16, of Manila; and Archie Contado, 27, of Quezon City.

The NDRRMC also reported six people injured and seven missing.

The southwest monsoon, enhanced by a low pressure area, has been dumping rain in Luzon and Western Visayas since last week.

Almost non-stop rain has affected 32,220 families, or 154,988 persons. Of this number, 5,037 families, or 24,025 persons, have been housed in 63 evacuation centers.

The bad weather has caused flooding in parts of Luzon and the cancellation of 47 domestic flights as of Tuesday.

The NDRRMC said P2.8-million in relief assistance had been allotted for affected families in the National Capital Region, the Calabarzon and Negros./rga