PNP: Carina death toll climbs to 21

MANILA, Philippines — At least 21 people died, 15 were injured and five reported missing in the wake of the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Carina, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.

Col. Jean Fajardo, the PNP’s chief information officer, said 11 of the fatalities were from Calabarzon and seven from Metro Manila. The other three were from Central Luzon. Among the causes of death are drowning, electrocution and landslide.

According to the tally of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) released yesterday, 14 people were confirmed dead, two injured and two others missing due to the combined effects of the monsoon, Typhoon Carina and Tropical Depression Butchoy.

In La Union, three persons reportedly drowned at the height of Carina (international name Gaemi) – one in San Fernando, one in Bacnotan town and another in Bauang municipality – while a fisherman is still missing.

In Manila, two died due to electrocution while another drowned. In Pasay City, a retired Philippine Air Force officer was found unconscious in the flooded basement of his home and later pronounced dead.

Up to 47,682 families or 202,015 people were displaced and have sought shelter in 14,872 evacuation centers put up in the areas hit by heavy rains and floods. Fajardo said at least 10,437 people were brought to safety in 245 search and rescue operations.

Members of the PNP were not spared by the typhoon’s wrath, with about 1,855 police officers and non-uniformed personnel affected and needing assistance.

Carina exits PAR

Carina has weakened into a typhoon category and exited the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday, but the southwest monsoon will continue to bring rains over parts of the country.

Moderate to heavy rains of 50 to 100 millimeters are forecast over Zambales, Bataan, Pangasinan and Benguet.

Carina is still bringing rains with gusty winds over Batanes while the southwest monsoon is bringing rains over Ilocos region, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Zambales and Bataan.

Occasional rains are forecast over Metro Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas and Occidental Mindoro. The monsoon will also bring scattered rains over the rest of Luzon while the rest of the country may see isolated rainshowers.

Batangas placed under state of emergency

The province of Batangas has been placed under a state of emergency due to the damage caused by the Carina-enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat.

Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas approved the state of emergency effective on Wednesday upon the assessment of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Four persons have died in a landslide in Agoncillo, Batangas.

Up to 330 families or 1,218 people were affected across nine cities and municipalities in Cavite and Batangas. The evacuees are currently staying in 20 evacuation centers.

Agricultural damage reaches P203 million

The damage to the agriculture sector in seven regions due to rains and floods has further increased to P203.38 million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In its latest report, the DA’s Operations Center said that as of 8 a.m. yesterday, 10,688 hectares of rice, corn, high value crops plantations in Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Soccsksargen and Caraga regions were affected.

At least 2,574 metric tons of production loss were recorded, affecting 9,198 farmers, the DA said.

At least 72,174 bags of rice seeds, 39,546 bags of corn seeds, 59,600 pouches and 1,966 kilos of vegetable seeds will be given to affected farmers.

The DA said the farmers can avail themselves of the P25,000 loan under Survival and Recovery Loan Program from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council. The P1-billion Quick Response can also be tapped, while the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. is ready to indemnify affected farmers.

Evacuees

In Manila, police said 9,741 families were brought to evacuation centers in the city as of 9:30 a.m. yesterday. However, the record of the Manila Department of Social Welfare was lower at an estimated 4,400 families, according to its director Ma. Asuncion Fugoso.

In Pangasinan, at least 88 families took temporary shelters in evacuation centers due to Typhoon Carina, according to a situational report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office as of 10 a.m. yesterday.

Across Central Luzon, 517 barangays were submerged in floodwaters ranging from one to three-feet deep due to continuous rains, prompting at least 6,208 families to seek refuge in 248 evacuation centers, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

In Bulacan, 133 barangays in nine towns and three cities are still affected by floodwater while 1,167 families were staying in 61 evacuation centers across the province.

Benguet electric grid

Typhoon Carina’s extreme heavy rainfall and strong winds since Wednesday evening left the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) with damage worth P2.4 million.

Beneco said it has restored power to 97.50 percent to its affected Baguio City consumers while remaining towns of Benguet are almost 100 percent restored. – Ed Amoroso, Bella Cariaso, Cesar Ramirez, Ric Sapnu, Jasper Arcalas, Jun Elias, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Artemio Dumlao, Ghio Ong, Nillicent Bautista, Jose Rodel Clapano, Pia Lee-Brago, Romina Cabrera