Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 15) — The death toll from heavy rains and floods caused by various weather systems climbed to 27, disaster response officials reported on Sunday.
In its 6 a.m. situational report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) validated 14 of the 27 deaths. The agency said six fatalities were recorded in Eastern Visayas, five in Zamboanga peninsula, two in Northern Mindanao, and one in Davao Region.
The NDRRMC also reported 11 injured people and three missing individuals.
The combined effects of the low pressure areas (LPAs), northeast monsoon or amihan, and shear line have affected 151,365 families or 614,159 people in 898 barangays in the country.
At least 20,056 families or 83,649 people are still in evacuation centers, the agency added.
The estimated cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure was pegged at ₱258.3 million and ₱171.4 million, respectively.
On Saturday, Malacañang said the national government shelled out ₱88 million in aid for affected families in Visayas and Mindanao.
Areas that have declared a state of calamity are Eastern Samar; San Miguel, Leyte; towns of Gandara, Basey, and San Jorge in Samar; Laoang, Northern Samar; Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte; and Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was last located 80 kilometers northeast of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte or 125 kilometers east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte.
The state weather bureau also said the LPA will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Bicol region, Eastern Visayas, and Quezon.
The agency forecasted moderate to heavy rains over Metro Manila, Mindanao, the rest of Visayas, Mimaropa, the rest of Calabarzon, and Aurora.
Localized thunderstorms are likely throughout the rest of Luzon that could trigger flash floods and landslides during severe thunderstorms, it added.
PAGASA earlier said the LPA would not develop into a tropical cyclone, but it still warned local authorities to be ready for possible flooding and rain-induced landslides.
