Storm death toll still rising, now 85
Miss Universe appeals for help
The death toll from landslides and devastating floods in the central Philippines triggered by tropical depression Usman climbed to 85, officials said yesterday, and 20 people were missing as rescuers slowly reached isolated communities.
The casualties, including young children, were
mostly killed when their homes collapsed in landslides after days of heavy rain in several provinces in the central Philippines, said Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) administrator.
'If we don't recover the missing or we recover them dead, that is 105 deaths, which we hope not,' Jalad said.
Miss U appeals for help
Newly crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray, who is the first Bicolano to win the crown, turned to Instagram to appeal for help for the victims of the tropical depression.
"Usman" had caused deaths and damages to agriculture and property in the areas of the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and the MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marindsuque, Romblon and Palawan) Region, and the CALABARZON area. It made landfall in Eastern Samar on Dec. 29.
In her first Instagram story for 2019, Gray appealed: “There have been 57 reported deaths from landslides and floods caused by the recent tropical depression Usman that affected the region Dec. 30."
Gray won the crown last Dec. 17 and is now in New York City to fulfill her reign.
Gray appealed to the public to send donations to three organizations – Aksyon Para sa Tiwi, Team Albay Youth Organization, and the Philippine Red Cross Camarines Sur Chapter.
The organizations are asking for donations of food packs, water, flashlight and batteries, medicines, hygiene kits, and cash.
She said Aksyon Para sa Tiwi asked that donations be dropped off at Door 2 Citispire Bldg., Imelda Roces Avenue, Brgy. 38, Gogon, Legazpi City.
Gray said Team Albay Youth Organization is also accepting water, ready-toeat food, blankets, tarpaulins and other relief items.
You may bring or send cash donations or relief items to the Philippine Red Cross-Camarines Sur Chapter beside ABS-CBN, Panganiban Drive, Naga City, she said.
Heavy rains, landslides
The tropical depression, which weakened into a low pressure system before leaving the Philippines on Sunday, brought heavy rain that triggered landslides and flooding in the Bicol and eastern Visayas regions.
Officials put three provinces under a "state of calamity" to give them access to emergency funds.
Bicol, with a population of 5.8 million, was the hardest hit, with 68 killed in intense rains and landslides. Damage to agriculture in Bicol, which produces rice and corn, was estimated at 1342 million ($6.5 million).
Rescuers, including the police and military, used heavy-lifting equipment to clear roads leading to landslide sites and entered flooded communities using rubber boats.
"The sun is already out, with occasional light rains. We hope floods will subside," Ronna Monzon, a member of the operations personnel at the disaster agency in Bicol, told Reuters yesterday.
Rising death toll
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Director for Operations Director and NDRRMC Spokesman Edgar Posadas, said from 75 fatalities on Tuesday, an additional 10 bodies were recovered by Search and Retrieval teams, bringing the death toll to 85.
45,300 families affected
Jalad said that a total of 45,348 families, or 191,597 persons, from 457 barangays were affected by TD Usman.
Of that number, 6,637 families or 24,894 persons are now in the 170 evacuation centers, while 12,132 families, or 54,665, are sheltered elsewhere.
95 roads, 3 bridges
Jalad said that a total of 95 road sections and three bridges in Regions MIMAROPA, 5, 6, and 8 were also re- ported affected by the weather disturbance. Of that number, 57 road sections and one bridge are already passable.
A total of 208 areas were reported flooded in MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas. But the floods have subsided in 125 areas.
He said a total of 69 houses were damaged in CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Eastern Visayas.
As part of the preparedness measures, 6,479 families or. 22,723 individuals in 146 barangays in Eastern Visayas were evacuated.
A total of 14,029,684 worth of assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), LGUs, and NGOs has been provided to the victims of the tropical depression.
Jalad said the NDRRM Operations Center and Regional DRRM Operations Center of the affected regions are still on "Blue" alert status and are continually monitoring the ongoing response efforts in the affected areas.
Caritas Manila appeals for donations
Meanwhile, Caritas Manila is appealing for prayers and donations for the thousands affected by “Usman.”
The social action arm of the Archdiocese of Manila said it had designated bank accounts for peso and dollar deposits for cash donations in the following banks: BPI, BDO, Metrobank, UnionBank, and PNB.
At the national level, National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA), Caritas Philippines said it is ready to use the local Solidarity Fund, Alay Kapwa, to provide immediate assistance, once preliminary assessments have been completed by the diocesan social action centers.
NASSA/Caritas Philippines has been in close coordination with the affected dioceses since December 27.
The Archdiocese of Caceres (Camarines Sur) on Wednesday had prepared relief goods for distribution to the affected families.
The Diocese of Legazpi also conducted initial assessment in the most affected areas while the dioceses of Libmanan and Sorsogon are still waiting for reports to be completed. (With a report from Leslie Aquino)