‘Lando’ death toll rises to 46; damage amounts to P9.4 billion
A resident begins cleaning up their homes in Cabanatuan, northern Philippines, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, two days after Typhoon Koppu flooded Cabanatuan city and nearby provinces. Slow-moving Typhoon Koppu blew ashore with fierce wind in the northeastern Philippines early Sunday, toppling trees and knocking out power and communications and forcing the evacuation of thousands of villagers. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Deaths from Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) increased to 46 on Friday.
Alexander Pama, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported 46 deaths and 82 injured in the wake of the typhoon.
Losses to agriculture and infrastructure have also reached a staggering P9.4 billion.
The heavy rains and strong winds from the typhoon also destroyed 26,124 houses in parts of Luzon.
READ: ‘Lando’ leaves over P7B in property damage in Luzon | ‘Lando’ the most destructive this year
Lando, which dumped heavy to intense rains mostly in Central Luzon at its peak, weakened into a low pressure area on Wednesday afternoon.
When 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, as well as causing thousands of passengers to be stranded.
On Thursday, the NDRRMC said that Lando was the worst typhoon to hit the Philippines so far this year in terms of casualties and damage. CDG
