WHAT WENT BEFORE: Tropical Storm ‘Sendong’

Considered the most destructive typhoon of 2011 in terms of casualties, Tropical Storm “Sendong” entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Dec. 15 and exited three days after, leaving 1,268 dead and 131,618 families displaced in 13 provinces.

The cities of Cagayan de Oro (674) in Misamis Oriental and Iligan (490) in Lanao del Norte recorded the highest number of deaths, following the intense rainfall that caused flashfloods and landslides.

Estimated cost of damage amounted to P2.07 billion while damaged houses totaled 51,144 in six regions, data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed.

Then President Benigno Aquino III, who declared a state of national calamity five days after the landfall, approved a P1.1-billion calamity fund. Relief assistance from government and nongovernment agencies and other groups totaled P182 million. —INQUIRER RESEARCH

Source: NDRRMC