Monsoon death toll climbs to 77

THE death toll from the torrential rains and flooding brought by the southwest monsoon has climbed to 77, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Saturday.

In its latest bulletin at 5 p.m., the NDRRMC said that of the 77 reported dead, 12 were victims of a landslide, 58 died due to drowning, three due to electrocution, two due to heart attack, one due to fallen trees and one case of undetermined death.

Nine were injured while 10 were reported missing.

The NDRRMC also reported that the continuous heavy downpour and massive flooding this week has affected 667,450 families or 3,010,881 people in164 municipalities and 36 cities in 16 provinces.

Of these, 103,673 families or 486,785 people are currently being served in 1,076 evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC noted that here has been a significant increase in the total number of evacuation centers and affected families or persons in Central Luzon.

The damage to property was estimated at P157,581,611.50, including P138,020,230 in infrastructure and P19,561,381.50 in agriculture.

A total of 8,352 houses were damaged in the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, and Western Visayas.

As of Saturday afternoon, a total of 10 roads and three bridges are not passable to all types of vehicles in the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Metro Manila due to flooding.

But to date, all roads in Muntinlupa City, Tarlac City, Laguna, Western Visayas and some roads in Manila that were previously reported obstructed by flood are already passable to all types of vehicles.

A total of 43 cities and municipalities have severe flooding but water has already subsided in the cities of Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Quezon, Caloocan, Pasay, Las Piñas, San Juan and in the towns of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan and Sta Maria, Laguna.

There are new flooding reports in Kalayaan and Sta. Rosa in Laguna and in some areas in Rizal including Antipolo City, Binangonan, Jalajala, Baras, San Mateo, Tanay and Taytay. (ELB/Sunnex)