The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday said the death toll in Regions 5 (Bicol) and 8 (Eastern Visayas) as a result of Tropical Depression “Usman” has climbed to 68.
NDRRMC executive director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, said the NDRRMC through the Management of the Dead and the Missing (MDM) Cluster led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), however, is still validating the reported 61 fatalities.
Of the 61 reported deaths, 50 came from the Bicol Region (15 from Albay, six from Sorsogon, 16 from Camarines Sur, six from Camarines Norte and seven from Masbate) while the 11 were from Eastern Visayas.
Most of the deaths were caused by drowning and landslide.
Jalad said at least 18 persons were also reported missing in the same regions while 12 individuals from Bicol and Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), were reported injured.
Jalad said Search, Rescue and Retrieval (SRR) operations were conducted in Bicol, particularly in Legazpi and Libon where landslides and heavy flooding were reported.
He said the SRR team is composed of 98 personnel from the Philippine Air Force (PAF), Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), together with local rescuers and volunteers.
There were five rubber boats and six trucks deployed to the said areas.
Meanwhile, 89 personnel from the PNP, Department of Public Works and Highways, BFP, PAF, PN, and Coast Guard together with the Provincial Incedent Management Team (IMT), are also conducting SRR operations in Tiwi, Nabua, Iriga and Buhi, as a response to reported landslides and flooding.
Response assets such as rubber boats, aluminum boats, backhoe and trucks were also deployed in the said areas.
Affected barangays in Region 5 and 8
Meanwhile, a total of 1,274 families or 4,906 individuals from 36 barangays in Regions 5 and 8 were affected by TD Usman.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already provided them with family food packs (FFPs) and other relief goods.
As part of the preparedness measures, a total of 1,169 families or.2,567 individuals were pre-emptively evacuated while the DSWD prepared 398,431 family food packs and standby funds amounting to P212,218,182.08
Jalad said the NDRRM Operations Center and Regional DRRM Operations Center of the affected regions are still on alert status and are continually monitoring the ongoing response efforts in the affected areas.
A total of 150 areas were reported flooded in Bicol and Eastern Visayas of which flooding in 29 areas have already subsided.
It added that 65 road sections and three bridges in Regions 5 and 8 were also reported affected by the weather disturbance.
The NDRRMC also said that 67 areas in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), MIMAROPA, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) and Bicol Region, experienced power interruption since December 29, 2018.
Of the figure, power in nine cities/municipalities in MIMAROPA have already been restored.
A total of 36 domestic flights were also cancelled while 3,678 passengers, 356 rolling cargoes, 28 vessels and seven motorbancas are stranded as of December 30 due to bad weather. (Francis Wakefield)