Death toll from Carina, monsoon rises to 34

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll following the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Carina has climbed to 34, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

Twelve of the dead were from Calabarzon, 11 were from Metro Manila, nine were in Central Luzon and two in Bicol.

Seventeen people were also reported injured, police said, while five are still missing in Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

PNP public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said 22 died due to drowning while five were electrocuted, six were buried by landslide and one was hit by a fallen tree.

Eighteen people were injured, with eight in Metro Manila, six in Calabarzon, three in Central Luzon and one in Ilocos.

Six people across Luzon remain missing.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 1.3 million people or 299,344 families were affected by the combined effects of the monsoon, Typhoons Carina and Butchoy in all regions in the country.

Of the total figure, 211,396 persons or 53,414 families are staying in evacuation centers, while 675,932 individuals or 114,735 families are taking shelter in other places.

A total of 317 houses were damaged – 240 partially and 77 totally – with an estimated damage to property amounting to P2,661,100.

Damage to agriculture has reached P9,706,852 while damage to irrigation facilities climbed to P6,560,000. For infrastructure, the reported damage was P1,298,974.

NDRRMC said that 1,244 families composed of 3,747 individuals were pre-emptively evacuated in Ilocos region, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Caraga and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The government has so far extended P61,338,767 in assistance to the victims in region Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Caraga and CAR, the NDRRMC said.

NDRRMC said that 29 cities and municipalities were placed under State of Calamity including 23 in Calabarzon; three in Mimaropa; one in Davao and two in Soccsksargen.

Fajardo said search and rescue as well as relief operations by the PNP are still ongoing with areas of concentration in Marikina, Caloocan, Malabon,