Lando death toll rises to 18 – NDRRMC

Residents wade through floodwaters brought about by Typhoon Koppu at Zaragosa township, Nueva Ecija provinc,e north of Manila, Philippines Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. AP

THE death toll from typhoon “Lando” (international name: Koppu) rose to 18 on Tuesday afternoon, the National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

The agency said hundreds of thousands of persons affected by the typhoon are still sheltered in evacuation centers.

In a press briefing, Undersecretary and NDRRMC executive director Alexander Pama said 16 people were injured while one person was missing.

Pama said the highest number of fatalities was recorded in Central Luzon, with 6 and the Cordillera Administrative Region with 5.

Among the causes of death were fallen trees, electrocution, collapsed wall, drowning and landslides.

He said Central Luzon was the hardest hit region while Nueva Ecija and Aurora were the hardest hit provinces.

Pama said 121, 841 families or 560, 570 persons were affected by the typhoon from Regions I, II, III, IV-A, Cordillera Administrative Region and National Capital Region.

He said 23,867 families or 107,719 individuals remained sheltered in evacuation centers nationwide.

Power outages were reported in nine cities and 68 municipalities in typhoon-stricken areas, he added.

He said  province-wide power outages were experienced in Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Kalinga and Mt. Province.

Due to massive flooding, landslides and toppled trees, as many as 88 road sections and 25 bridges were impassable.

The NDRRMC has estimated the damage to agriculture at P5,304, 116, 605.37 while damage to agriculture was placed at P520, 000.