'Maring,' 'Habagat' death toll now at 21, damage at P633M

MANILA, Philippines- Heavy rains triggered by the southwest monsoon and flooding caused by typhoon 'Maring' have brought the total number of casualties to 21, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Saturday.

"For now we are on blue alert. Our focus is on relief operations from the effects of the recent monsoon rain," NDRRMC Spokesperson Major Reynaldo Balido said. NDRRMC added that at least 30 were injured while four are still missing.

At 6 a.m. today, the state agency identified the two latest deaths as Ed Paulo, 12 of Floridablanca, Pampanga and Leonel Montilla, 21 of Bacoor, Cavite. Both died from drowning.

NDRRMC said of the 21 casualties, 12 came from Calabarzon, eight from Central Luzon and one from Metro Manila.

Damage to infrastructure and agriculture hit P633.082 million, NDRRMC said. Around 248 houses were destroyed while 356 were damaged, it added.

About 500 areas in 51 towns and cities in Ilocos, Central and Southern Luzon and Metro Manila remain flooded, it said. NDRRMC added that at least 58 roads and one bridge remain impassable to vehicles.

The report said 2.52 million suffered from the recent catastrophe, broken down into 541,554 families in 1,822 villages in 138 towns and 35 cities in 17 provinces.

About 46,276 families or 206,232 people are in 769 evacuation centers, NDRRMC said.

The agency added that it is now looking out for another low-pressure area that has entered the country which the weather bureau said has the potential to turn into a cyclone.