Cyclone deaths rise to 25; 6 towns in calamity states

Inquirer file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Another individual has died due to the combined effects of Tropical Cyclones Ferdie, Gener, Helen and Igme and the southwest monsoon, raising the death toll to 25, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Saturday.

In its latest bulletin, the NDRRMC said 10 deaths were recorded in Mimaropa, five in Western Visayas, two in Central Visayas, four in Zamboanga Peninsula and four in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

According to the agency, 13 were reported injured in various parts of the country while eight have remained missing.

READ: LPA becomes Tropical Depression Igme; Signal No. 1 up in Batanes

The disaster agency said 1,449,333 individuals or 387,755 families were affected by the weather disturbances in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, BARMM and Cordillera Administrative Region.

According to the agency, 23,512 individuals or 5,783 families has remained in 199 evacuation centers across the country.

It said the weather disturbances have affected 122 roads and 14 bridges nationwide.

Data from the Department of Agriculture showed that the combined effects of the tropical cyclones and the monsoon remained at P600.83 million in losses in the agriculture sector.

The towns of Dumaran, Roxas, and San Vicente in Palawan and the municipalities of towns of Hinigaran and San Enrique and La Carlota City in Negros Occidental were placed under states of calamity due to the effects of the prolonged rains that brought floods and destroyed properties in some areas.

Ferdie left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Sept. 14, a day after it entered the country while Gener and Helen also exited PAR on Sept. 18. Igme left PAR on Saturday morning.