NDCC expects typhoon death toll to increase; Pampanga floods worsen

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said the death toll of typhoon "Seniang," now placed at 43, is expected to rise as rescue and search operations for at least 12 people buried in landslides in Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog, and for 226 mountaineers still trapped at Buruwisan Falls in Siniloan, Laguna, continue.

Reports reaching the NDCC said 31 other mountaineers have been rescued in Siniloan, while four of their colleagues died at the height of the typhoon.

The NDCC said rescue teams were still scouring affected areas, particularly those hit by landslides, in Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog.

At least 4,730 families remain in evacuation centers in Metro Manila, while 704 families have returned to their homes as floodwaters subsided.

The NDCC said "Seniang" damaged 27,756 houses and totally destroyed 3,586 others.

The total typhoon damage was placed at P412.516 million. Agriculture accounted for P112.658 million; infrastructure, P236.919 million; private property, P27.3 million; and other sectors, P35.639 million.

"Seniang" has slowed down as it moved away from the country, but another weather disturbance was spotted east of Mindanao and may become active in 12 to 24 hours.

Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez said they are closely watching out for possible dengue outbreaks in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog where many areas were still flooded.

Meanwhile, in Pampanga, private groups have joined hands with the Air Force, the Army and Gov. Lito Lapid’s Rescue 21 team in relief operations in the province where flooding reportedly worsened yesterday.

Dr. Emmanuel Guanlao, chief of the provincial disaster coordinating council (PDCC), reported three more flood-related deaths in the province, while the number of flood-affected residents swelled to 116,926 families or 568,533 people.

Floodwaters from upland areas continue to flow down to densely populated low-lying towns, he noted.

The new fatalities included drowning victims Rufino Lopez, 43, of Colgante, Apalit, and Boy Cruz, eight months old, of San Nicolas, Sasmuan; and Herasmo Payuyao, 44, who died of a heart attack while helping in the distribution of relief goods in Barangays Paralayoa in Candaba town.

Guanlao said teams from Rescue 21, the Army and Air Force have been joined by the ABS-CBN Foundation in distributing relief goods to people isolated by heavy flooding in 169 barangays in Pampanga’s 16 towns.

Hardest-hit by flooding are the towns of Guagua, Sasmuan, Lubao, Minalin, Masantol, Macabebe, Candaba, Sto. Tomas and San Luis, where floodwaters in some areas were reported to be as high as five to 10 feet.

A total of 2,339 families or 9,986 people remain in 59 evacuation centers. A total of 178 families are expected to prolong their stay at the centers after their homes were totally destroyed either by the strong winds of typhoons "Reming" and "Seniang" or were washed away in rivers, mostly at the Abacan River in Angeles City.

In another development, the Philippine National Red Cross appealed yesterday for more donations for victims of "Seniang." — With Ding Cervantes and Ella Oducayen