Death toll from heavy rains, floods during holiday weekend rises to 39

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 29) — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday said the death toll from the heavy rains and floods during the Christmas weekend has risen to 39.

The NDRRMC also noted in its 6 p.m. report that 11 of the deaths were already validated, and these were from Davao Region (4), Eastern Visayas (3), Zamboanga Peninsula (3), and Caraga (1).

Twelve were reportedly injured while 25 remain missing.

Disaster response officials said 130,844 families, or 503,802 people, were affected. Of these, 15,418 families, or 66,761 residents, remain in evacuation centers.

A total of 4,581 houses were damaged, most of which are in Northern Mindanao. Damage to infrastructure and agriculture were so far logged at ₱110.4 million and ₱228.3 million, respectively. Two areas in Northern Mindanao and one in Caraga are still without electricity while one area in Mimaropa and one in Northern Mindanao still do not have water supply.

The NDRRMC said a state of calamity was declared in Llorente, Eastern Samar; Dapitan and Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte; Gingoog, Misamis Oriental; and in the province of Misamis Occidental.

A total of ₱49.63-million worth of various kinds of assistance were already provided to residents in affected regions.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said better weather condition over the Visayas and Mindanao is expected beginning Friday.

Weather forecaster Ana Clauren-Jorda told CNN Philippines on Thursday morning that the low pressure area spotted 100 kilometers southeast of Eastern Samar will still bring rains over Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, and Western Visayas.