Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3) — The death toll due in the aftermath of tropical depression Usman has reached 122, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday.
The casualties were recorded n Regions 4-A (MIMAROPA), 5 (Bicol Region) and 8 (Eastern Samar). Sixty persons were injured, and 28 are missing.
More than 300,000 persons were evacuated in the regions, the NDRRMC added.
The storm was downgraded into a low-pressure area, but weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the high amount of rainfall contributed to the landslides which caused deaths in the region.
Environment dept. to blame?
Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should remind communities about tolerance of soil to absorb water.
“Don’t blame us,” Bichara said in an interview.
The Albay governor explained residents did not have appropriate information on how certain soil are prone to landslides. He claimed there was no historical record of landslides in the stricken areas.
Several residents have died due to landslides in Albay and Sorsogon.
Agricultural damages up
Damages and losses in agriculture from tropical depression Usman went up to ₱816.17 million, the Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The DA estimated that 18,634 metric tons of crops and agriculture products were destroyed, with 40,075 hectares of agricultural areas damaged.
Usman has affected the livelihood of 36,902 farmers and fisherfolk, the DA explained.
“The increase in overall values is attributed to the reports in rice, corn, high value crops, livestock, fisheries and irrigation facilities in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar and Samar,” a Tuesday statement from the DA read.
The data, however, does not yet include information from the Eastern Visayas region, which was also hit by Usman.
