Death toll from Christmas weekend rains climbs to 25
THE death toll from heavy rains and floods that devastated parts of the Philippines over the Christmas weekend has risen to 25, with 26 others still missing, the national disaster response agency said Wednesday.
Nearly 400,000 people were affected, with over 81,000 still in shelters and nine others injured, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.
Sixteen of the 25 deaths were reported in Northern Mindanao region in the south, while 12 of the 26 missing are from the eastern Bicol region, the council added.
A shear line—the point where warm and cold air meet—triggered rains in parts of eastern, central and southern Philippines, the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
The weather disturbance disrupted Christmas celebration in affected provinces, with photos from the southern province of Misamis Occidental showing rescuers carrying an elderly woman on a plastic chair as they waded through a f looded street. Some residents in the province were seen hanging on to floaters as Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescuers pulled them across chest-deep flood using a rope.
The disaster management council said 1,196 houses were damaged by the floods, while sections of 123 roads and 12 bridges were affected.
Some areas remain without power or water supply.
While the effect of the shear line has weakened, a new low-pressure area may bring moderate to heavy rains within the next 24 hours to the same areas affected by the Christmas weekend floods.
The weather bureau said Wednesday that flooding and landslides are likely, especially in areas with significant prior rainfall.
Each year about 20 typhoons and storms batter the Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. The archipelago is located on the “Ring of Fire” along the Pacific Ocean’s rim, where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.
The government, meanwhile, said on Wednesday that relief efforts were continuing in communities that were flooded due to intense rains spawned by the shear line, with the bulk of the assistance efforts being focused in hardest hit Northern Mindanao.
NDRRMC Chairperson and Department of National Defense Officer in Charge Jose Faustino Jr. and NDRRMC Executive Director Raymundo Ferrer conducted an aerial inspection of the flooded areas on Wednesday morning to see firsthand the extent of the flooding in Misamis Occidental.
They also met with Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal and other local officials to discuss further actions needed to assist the affected communities.
“The President is closely monitoring the situation in Misamis Occidental and other affected areas and has instructed the NDRRMC to continue providing all needed assistance. The NDRRMC is working with all relevant agencies to ensure that timely and appropriate support is given to the displaced families,” Faustino said.
Heavy rains brought by the shear line were experienced during the past days in Regions 4B, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and in the Bangsamoro region, triggering flooding and landslides in the affected regions.
The NDRRMC said at least P16 million worth of family food packs, food stuffs, bottled water, shelter kits, hygiene kits, blankets and financial assistance have been provided to the affected families in Bicol, the Visayas provinces, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, through the combined efforts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology and OCD also deployed their emergency telecommunications teams equipped with VSAT equipment to ensure uninterrupted communications between local, regional, and national disaster managers. The OCD Region 10 has also deployed search and rescue teams to assist local government responders.
“We thank and commend our counterparts in the local government units and national government for their timely preparation and quick response actions to ensure the safety and well-being of our countrymen. Ipagpatuloy natin ang pagtutulungan at mahalin natin ang ating bayan,” Faustino said.
He said more supplies, equipment and assistance are set to be provided after discussions with local officials about the situation of the affected population.
“We will continue to provide food, water, and other items to help the displaced families staying in the evacuation centers and in other affected areas. This will not stop until the situation improves and they are able to return to their homes,” Ferrer assured.