'Crising' death toll rises to 4

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from tropical depression “Crising” has risen to four even as disaster management officials lifted the red alert status on Friday due to the improved weather condition.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said two new fatalities had been recorded in Davao region.

A certain Nelson Jeminez, 40, died of drowning in Davao del Norte. Meanwhile, a certain Namatyagan Namones, 12, died in a landslide that hit the border of San Fernando, Bukidnon and Davao Oriental.

The other fatalities were Francisco Digaynon and Erwin Campana who got drowned while crossing rivers in Compostela Valley.

“Crising” also left four persons injured and two others injured.

NDRRMC Executive Director Eduardo del Rosario said he is satisfied with the preparations of local disaster management offices and local governments.

“The local and national government made good preparations in providing early warning system and conducting preemptive evacuation,” Del Rosario said in a press conference.

“The four [fatalities], four injured two missing are very low. During previous incidents, the casualties [reached] hundreds,” he added.

Del Rosario said they lifted their red alert status on Friday morning since “Crising” is already out of the country.

Local disaster management units, however, have been asked to prepare for the low pressure area.

“We have alerted local disaster risk reduction management councils to prepare for minor flooding in the National Capital Region because of the low pressure area,” Del Rosario said.

"Crising" has affected 183,966 persons or 36,407 families in 137 barangays in Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Of the affected population, 19,798 families or 96,438 persons are inside 37 evacuation centers.

The bad weather damaged a total of 87 houses in Northern Mindanao and Davao region.

NDRRMC said a total of 1,383 persons in 12 vessels remain stranded due to the bad weather. The passengers were stranded in Palawan, Zamboanga, Pagadian, Iligan, Bongao and Jolo.

The Social Welfare department has pre-positioned P68.7 million worth of standby funds and relief goods to help the affected families.