Metro Manila, Philippines – The death toll in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Basyang (international name: Penha) rose to 12 on Saturday evening, Feb. 7, an official from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.
OCD Deputy Spokesperson Diego Mariano said the 12 reported deaths were for validation as of 6 p.m. on Saturday, adding that nearly 700 villages were affected by the tropical storm.
In Cagayan de Oro City, a family of four died due to a landslide.
In Iligan City, authorities are still investigating the cause of death of three persons, while they also found a person missing after a landslide incident.
Mariano said responders are looking into the cause of one death in Northern Mindanao.
He also said two people in Surigao del Sur and one in Agusan del Norte drowned amid the onslaught of “Basyang.”
In its latest situational report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said over 128,000 families or more than 455,000 individuals were affected by Basyang.
The NDRRMC said around 390,000 people of the affected population were in Caraga, where “Basyang” destroyed at least 400 houses.
Others were in Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, and Davao Region.
More than 11,000 locals remained in evacuation centers as of 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The NDRRMC said at least P7 million worth of assistance has been provided to affected families.
Basyang weakened to a low pressure area (LPA) and dissipated over the Sulu Sea on Saturday morning, according to state weather bureau PAGASA.
PAGASA said the northeast monsoon or amihan and the shearline will continue to affect weather conditions of the country in the next 24 hours.
