'Mina' death toll up at 22

MANILA, Philippines - Six more people have been confirmed killed, bringing the death toll in the country from typhoon "Mina" to 22, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported today.

Based on the report of the NDRRMC, the death toll may still increase even as "Mina" has left the country because there at least 12 more people still missing and are now subjects of rescue and retrieval operations.

The NDRRMC's 6 a.m. report showed that the most number of deaths was recorded in Baguio City, where an open dumpsite gave in and buried several houses.

The other fatalities were recorded in Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Zambales, Catanduanes, Zamboanga del Sur, Benguet, Abra and Quezon City.

Five of the missing people are fishermen whose unidentified motor boat went missing in Pangasinan. The other missing people were swept away by flashfloods or buried by landslides in La Union, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, Abra and Benguet.

The NDRRMC said that a total of 300,959 people were affected by the typhoon in seven regions in Luzon and Visayas, but only 3,713 people are still in evacuation centers.

The agency said that a total of 1,316 houses were damaged due to the strong winds and heavy rains brought on by the typhoon.

The NDRRMC said that the initial cost of damages to agriculture and infrastructure was P1.1 billion.

Benito Ramos, head of the NDRRMC, said several units of the military and the police have launched massive search and retrieval operations in areas where there are reported missing persons.

Massive clearing operations in areas greatly affected by the typhoon have also been launched.