Monsoon, typhoons leave 26 dead

National

AT LEAST 26 people have been reported dead after Severe Tropical Storm Opong, Super Typhoon Nando, Tropical Depression Mirasol combined with southwest monsoon battered several parts of the country in recent weeks.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the highest death toll was recorded in Bicol where nine people died followed by Cagayan Valley with eight, Cordillera with four, Central Luzon and Central Visayas with two each, and Eastern Visayas with one.

Officials have confirmed that several victims died from landslides and drowning, while others were killed in flood-related structural collapses, a report by Philstar said.

More than 2.7 million people were affected and had to be moved to evacuation centers.

Damage is also widespread with losses to agriculture estimated at over P1 billion and infrastructure damage is estimated at nearly P864 million mostly in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region, CAR, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, and Western and Central Visayas.

Masbate is also the most affected by the Severe Tropical Storm Opong (Typhoon Bualoi), prompting the provincial government to declare a state of calamity.

Masbate Gov. Richard Kho said it may take at least a month to restore power in the province.

The Masbate airport also sustained an estimated damage of P15 million.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has set up a makeshift terminal to resume operations while repair works are being conducted at the terminal building.(Victoria Diana USJ-R Comm Intern)