'Ineng' death toll rises to 21

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll due to typhoon 'Ineng' (international name Goni) rose to 21, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Tuesday.

In its 6 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said the fatalities came from Mt. Province, Abra, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Zambales and Ilocos Sur.

The NDRRMC added that 23 injured persons were reported in Mt. Province, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Batanes and Cagayan.

A total of 15 persons are still missing in Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Benguet and Zambales, the state-run emergency response body said.

The NDRRMC said close to 24,000 families or over 100,000 persons were affected by the typhoon in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Of the affected population, more than 2,700 families were taken to evacuation centers.

The typhoon also totally damaged around 102 houses and partially destroyed 1,536 homes in the affected regions, the NDRRMC said.

"Ineng" damaged nearly P470 million worth of agricultural crops and infrastructure in Regions 1, 2 and CAR.