‘Lando’ leaves over P7B in property damage in Luzon

Damage to property from tropical cyclone Lando (international name Koppu) after it wreaked havoc in Luzon has amounted to over P7 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Thursday.

A total of P7,332,932,212.50 in damage to property was recorded. Of these losses, about P6.4 billion was to agriculture and about P902 million was to infrastructure.

Hardest hit was Central Luzon with P5.1 billion worth of damage to agriculture.

The official death toll also climbed to 41.

The newly listed deaths were from Benguet, Ifugao, Zambales and Aurora. They died from flash floods and landslides.

Lando’s wrath also injured 78 persons and left 5 persons missing.

The heavy rains and ferocious winds from Lando affected 1,242,239 persons.

Of these, 113,584 persons are still in 455 evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC also recorded 18,758 houses damaged in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon and Cordillera Administrative Region.

A total of 101 road sections and 11 bridges are still not passable in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon and CAR.

The government has already provided P23 million worth of assistance, the NDRRMC said.

The tropical cyclone caused widespread flooding in Luzon with some provinces still submerged.

Lando, which dumped heavy to intense rains mostly in Central Luzon at its peak, weakened into a low pressure area on Wednesday afternoon.

While Lando was at typhoon intensity, it pummeled Aurora with its heavy rains and strong winds when it hit land early Sunday. It had more time to dump rains as it moved slowly after landfall.

At its peak, Lando also caused suspension of classes and cancellation of dozens of flights with thousands of passengers stranded. CDG

RELATED STORIES

Expect rain in northern provinces — Pagasa

Benguet police chief sacked over ‘Lando’ casualties

3 Pampanga towns under state of calamity due to ‘Lando’