Rescuers raced Thursday to reach residents stranded by fast-rising floodwaters after torrential rains from Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” submerged villages, killed more than 20 people, and affected over two million individuals.
In the Bicol region alone, 20 fatalities were recorded as of Thursday morning, regional police chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said, attributing most of the deaths to drowning and landslides.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said some 2,077,643 individuals or 431,738 families were affected, of which over 160,000 took shelter in evacuation centers.
Bicol accounted for 1.6 million individuals affected, with its 18 cities and municipalities placed under a state of calamity. This was followed by the Bangsamoro region with 351,913 individuals and Mimaropa with 24,748.
The Philippine Coast Guard said some 8,786 passengers were also stranded in 126 ports across the country.
The Department of Agriculture recorded almost P10 million worth of initial damage to agriculture in the Bicol region, with 209 hectares of rice and corn plantation damaged and 234 farmers affected.
Around 18.6 million learners in 35,973 schools were affected nationwide by the severe tropical storm, with Calabarzon logging the highest number with 3.18 million. At least 754,935 teaching and non-teaching personnel were also affected in these schools, which suspended in-person classes at all levels.
Damage to school infrastructure was initially placed at around P264 million, comprising 84 totally damaged and 108 partially damaged classrooms.
To date, 214 schools are now being used as evacuation centers in six regions including Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Soccsksargen.
State weather bureau’s Lorie Dela Cruz said a month’s worth of rainfall was dumped in Bicol region in a 24-hour window from 8 a.m. on October 22 to the following morning, with Camarines Sur province and Albay province’s Legazpi city particularly hard hit.
On Thursday, rescuers were forced to halt the search for a missing fisherman after a boat sank in the waters off Bulacan province, west of Manila, the local disaster agency said.
The Office of Civil Defense said the government is ramping up its efforts to assist areas in the Bicol region ravaged by “Kristine.”
OCD spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said rescue and relief operations were focused on communities still grappling with high floodwaters, particularly in Naga City and towns across Camarines Sur, including Presentacion and Bula.
“The challenge remains the high flood levels,” Posadas said.
He added the rubber boats requested by former Vice President Leni Robredo for Naga City were also en route.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said all airports in Bicol were now operational, with the Daraga, Virac, Masbate and Naga airports ready to transport relief goods.
The Department of Public Works and Highway said at least 27 road sections in Bicol, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley remained closed to traffic. DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the department deployed quick response assets, including 2,048 pieces of equipment and 9,005 personnel for clearing operations.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the President’s order for the DSWD was to ensure no one will be left behind in the ongoing relief operations.
“The President’s instruction is clear: no family or individual affected by the calamity should go hungry,” Gatchalian said. With AFP
