MANILA, Philippines - The number of persons affected by floods triggered by the tail end of a cold front has exceeded 245,000, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.
Affected persons include those living in flooded areas, those displaced and are now in evacuation centers or with their relatives, and those who lost properties and livelihood.
The NDRRMC said a total of 59,304 families or 245,487 persons were affected in 202 barangays in Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga regions.
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, a total of 83,266 persons or 19,271 families are receiving assistance from relief teams. Of this, 65,611 persons or 14,174 families are still inside evacuation centers.
The NDRRMC reported that the number of residents inside evacuation centers have risen to 122,776. The number went down to 65,611 persons in the afternoon as some residents returned to their homes due to the improved weather condition.
The floods have left six persons dead and six others injured. Four persons namely Ramon Ampong of Davao del Norte, John Michael Unson of Misamis Orienral and Renante Finca and Gary Galicia both from Oriental Mindoro remained missing.
The floods have damaged almost P58 million worth of properties.
The NDRRMC also said a total of 276 houses have been damaged in Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN and Caraga regions.
Barangays Kapalong Pasbangan and Mankilam in Tagum, and parts of Braullo E. Dujali both in Davao del Norte have experienced power outages.
Three bridges and nine roads in Davao and Caraga remain impassable to all types of vehicles due to flooding.
The affected lifelines were the barangay Sagayen, Florida and Camiling and Kinamayan ROads in Davao del Norte; San Jose, Dapdan and Taytayan bridges in Davao Oriental and Talacogon-San Luis section, San Luis-Talacogon section, Binongan, San Gabriel junctions and Sinobong road in Agusan del Sur.
The government has provided more than P809,000 worth of assistance to the affected residents.