Residents hang on to a rope as they pass strong currents along a flooded area in Marikina, east of Manila, Philippines on Thursday Aug. 9, 2012. A fresh deluge forced more evacuations along fast-rising rivers in the Philippine capital Thursday, as the city and surrounding areas struggled to deal with widespread flooding triggered by nearly two weeks of relentless rains. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday reported the number of deaths at 45 and 900,000 people affected in Mindanao by tropical depression “Agaton” which has now weakened into low pressure area (LPA).
“Agaton”’s prolonged rains induced flash flood and landslides in Mindanao the past several days.
NDRRMC partial official death toll was recorded with 18 in Region 11 or Davao Region, 19 in Caraga Region, seven in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) and one in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).
Most of the deaths are attributable to landslides and drowning, it said.
The NDRRMC also said the number of injured persons rose to 68, while eight are still missing in Regions 9, 10, 11 and Caraga.
Damage caused by the tropical depression was estimated to P369,142,178.22, including P128,513,750.00 in infrastructure and P240,628,428.22 in agriculture in Regions 10, 11 and Caraga.
In its 6:00 a.m. update Wednesday, the NDDRMC said that 186,543 families or 895,572 persons were affected in 846 barangays in 103 municipalities in 15 provinces of Regions 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao Region), Caraga and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Of these, 55,501 families or 260,478 persons were displaced and being served inside 585 evacuation centers.
It added that 50 roads and 25 bridges were rendered impassable in Regions 8, 10, 11 and Caraga.
As of 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, 639 passengers and nine vessels along with 111 rolling cargo vessels and five motor bancas were stranded.
The NDRRMC said the number of damages houses increased to 2,130 — with totally damaged houses reaching 837 while 1,293 were partially damaged.
The disaster agency reported 16 incidents of landslides, six flooding and flash floods and two maritime incidents in Regions 8, 9, 10, 11, Caraga and ARMM.
It added that total cost of government assistance for the affected families has reached P60,381,514.34 worth of relief goods from the combined resources of the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) that allocated P16,015,498.42; local government units (LGUs) in Regions 11 and Caraga amounting to P43,718,443; and Department of Health allocating P647,572.
Meanwhile, NDRRMC also reported that the Agusan del Sur Chapter team assessed the landslide area in Sibagat; distributed relief Tuesday to 500 families in the municipality of Bunawan and 250 families in San Francisco town.
The NDRRMC also distributed food items to 624 families in Surigao City and Surigao del Norte; deployed 2 teams on Tuesday for relief distribution in Claver, Higakit and Surigao City to 660 families; and provided hot meals to 128 individuals and first-aid treatment to 12 persons in Ligan City. (MNS)