This was first published on ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines – At least 60 people died after Metro Manila and parts of Luzon were battered by heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat, latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed.
In a report released Friday morning, NDRRMC reported 11 more deaths: 4 in Rizal; 3 in Laguna; 2 in Pangasinan; and one each in Quezon Province and Batangas.
NDRRMC data showed that drowning was the most common cause of death with 36 cases. At least 7 people were still missing, according to the council.
Meanwhile, 11 people died due to landslide, 3 from electrocution and 2 from heart attack. The NDRRMC did not indicate the cause of death of four of the fatalities.
The number of people affected by torrential rains and floods rose to 2.4 million. Of this number, 77,850 families or 362,307 people were still inside evacuation centers.
Severe flooding also damaged 3,135 houses in Regions I, III, IV-A, IV-B and VI.
A state of calamity has been declared in the following areas:
- Metro Manila: Marikina, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, San Juan, Pasig, Pasay, Caloocan and Pateros
- REGION I: Pangasinan Province
- REGION III: Iba, Zambales; Ologanpo City; San Fernando, Pampanga; Bataan; Bulacan Province
- REGION IV-A: Laguna, San Mateo, Rizal; Tanay, Rizal; Cainta, Rizal; Rodriguez, Rizal; Jalajala, Rizal
- REGION IV-B: Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; Culion, Palawan; El Nido, Palawan; Linapacan, Palawan
The national government has yet to release estimates on the damage caused by the massive floods, but the DSWD said P45.06 million worth of relief funds have been released by the national and local governments, and non-government organizations.
