Holy Week death toll climbs to 31

MANILA, Philippines - The number of people who died from several incidents during the Holy Week has risen to 31, while the number of persons injured during the same period climbed to 123, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.

The number of fatalities this year is higher than the 28 recorded in 2013 while the number of injured is lower than the 583 recorded during the previous year.

The latest fatalities were reported in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quezon and Rizal, mostly due to drowning, a report released by NDRRMC showed.  

The victims were identified as Jenifer Balalio, 28, and Vic Mendoza, 16, who died of drowning in Cagayan; Don Don Abar, 24, and Jessica Fernandez, 15, who drowned in Isabela, and  John Hames Sombey, 6, and Jeffrey Borreo, 16, who died in Quezon.  In Tuguegarao City, Rainer Tamaray, 10, died in a vehicular accident.

The NDRRMC has also received new reports about people being injured in traffic accidents, cars catching fire and strong water currents in Cagayan, Quezon, Batangas and Bulacan.

A total of 50 natural and man-made incidents were recorded during the Holy Week as of yesterday.

The NDRRMC lifted today its red alert status as the situation normalized.