Courtesy: Philippine Red Cross
THE death toll attributed to the combined effects of Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) has risen to five, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Monday morning.
This represents an increase from the three fatalities reported on Sunday. The number of injured has also climbed to five, while seven individuals remain missing. \
The NDRRMC has validated two of the reported deaths and one injury, with verification efforts underway for the remaining figures. The widespread impact of the severe weather is evident in the staggering number of affected individuals: 800,864 people from 225,985 families across 1,556 barangays.
The scale of displacement is significant, with 20,115 individuals (5,921 families) currently housed in evacuation centers. An additional 70,720 individuals (16,671 families) are seeking shelter outside of designated evacuation sites. Search, rescue, and retrieval teams have played a crucial role, evacuating or assisting in the evacuation of 11,975 people. Proactive measures also resulted in the pre-emptive evacuation of 1,049 families (3,198 individuals) across several regions, including Regions 1, 2, 6, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Caraga, and CAR.
The combined force of Habagat and Crising resulted in flooding across 138 areas. While 125 of these areas have seen floodwaters recede, 38 locations are still experiencing receding flood levels. The NDRRMC continues to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available. The council is coordinating relief efforts and working to address the needs of those affected by the severe weather.
