THE heavy rains and floods that hit parts of Visayas and Mindanao over the holidays have claimed more lives.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported on Friday that the death toll from the effects of the shear line, or the convergence of cold and warm winds that forms rain clouds, has risen to 44.
The number of missing also increased to 28, while the number of injured rose to 12.
The NDRRMC said 24 deaths were reported in Northern Mindanao, six in the Bicol Region, four in Zamboanga Peninsula, four in the Davao region, three in Eastern Visayas, and three in the Caraga region.
It said 13 of the deaths have been validated.
The missing individuals were from the Bicol region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Northern Mindanao.
The injured individuals were in Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Davao region.
Affected families
The estimate of the affected population has also increased.
More that 131,000 families, consisting of more that 509,000 individuals were affected.
Disaster management officials said 4,604 families or 15,800 individuals are staying in 151 evacuation centers.
More crops, roads damaged
The estimated damage to agriculture has risen to P232.731 million.
A total of 9, 710 farmers and fisherfolk from the Bicol region and Northern Mindanao were affected. 7,707 hectares of hectares of crops were damaged.
The cost of damage to infrastructure has also increased to P1.130 billion. The affected infrastructure were in Mimaropa, the Bicol region, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, and the Caraga region.
The number of damaged houses now stands at 4,522. The cost of the damage stands at P54.9 million.
Theses houses are in MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
There are also 765 stranded passengers, 13 stranded rolling cargoes, and one stranded vessel in Western and Central Visayas.
Relief efforts
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it has provided close to P26 million worth of assistance to the affected families.
The DSWD also said it has P100 million worth of standby funds from its central office and field offices, and P796.9 million worth of food and non-food items.
Banner photo credit: PIA Misamis Oriental
