Philippine storm kills 40, inflicts $34m farm damage

MANILA: Aside from inflicting a heavy death toll that soared to 40, severe tropical storm Kompasu also destroyed $34 million worth of agricultural products like rice and vegetables that resulted in price increases amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemicbesetingthecountry,accordingtoofficials.

But the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) clarified that of the 40 fatalities blamed on Kompasu (local name Maring), 23 were confirmed dead while the remaining 17 were still being validated. It added 17 others were missing.

The NDRRMC said that Northern Luzon accounted for the most number of fatalities, based on official reports, with Ilocos Sur province at the lead with 14.

Benguet was second with nine and followed by Palawan, 5; Cagayan, 2; and one each in La Union, Ilocos Norte and La Union.

Among the youngest victims, the NDRRMC said, were three siblings aged, 2, 6, and 8, who died when a landslide buried their house in the town of La Trinidad, Benguet at the height of the storm.

It also reported that more than 7,000 houses, mostly in the Ilocos Region, were damaged due the floods caused by unabated heavy rain.

Reports said that many of the residents were asleep in Ilocos Sur when the floods came, forcing them to go to their rootops where they appealed for rescue and assistance through social media.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), meanwhile, reported that Kompasu also let a wide trail of destruction on farms as well as infrastructure estimated at $34 million.

But more than that the DA said the storm adversely affected more than 57,000 farmers, fishermen and livestock raisers.

The DA pointed out the Kompasu dealt a “double whammy” on the agricultural sector which had yet to recover from the devastion wrought by typhoon Conson (local name Jolina) that ravaged the country in August.

According to the DA, when Kompasu exited from the country on Oct. 12, it destroyed thousand of hectares devoted to rice, the staple food of the 110 million Filipinos, as well as corn, vegetables, high value crops as well as livestock, worth $34 million.