TYPHOON “Paolo” left widespread damage and disruption across Northern and Central Luzon, displacing thousands and inundating low-lying communities as it swept through the country late last week.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Bogo City, Cebu on Sept. 30 has reached 72, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Monday.
According to the latest National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) report released early Monday, Paolo affected 94,744 families or 313,822 individuals across Regions I, II, III, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and CALABARZON.
More than 3,000 people sought refuge in 42 evacuation centers, while over 5,000 others were temporarily sheltered in outside facilities.
Flooding was reported in 134 barangays across Pangasinan, Aurora, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, and Batangas provinces.
In Pangasinan, several areas, including Dagupan City, Bautista, and Calasiao experienced floodwaters reaching up to four feet. Floods in Bataan’s Mariveles and Bagac barangays were chest-deep, but had subsided by Friday, Oct 3.
In Zambales, dozens of barangays in the towns of San Felipe, Cabangan, and Candelaria reported floods of one to three feet, temporarily isolating residents and disrupting road access.
At least 27 houses were reported damaged, mostly in CAR, CALABARZON, and Central Luzon. A total of 111 roads and 36 bridges were rendered impassable at the height of the typhoon, though most have since reopened.
Electric power was tentatively down in 61 cities and municipalities, primarily in Regions II and CAR, while 17 seaports temporarily halted operations.
“As of this morning, we had 72 fatalities in our list, 559 ang reported injured, no missing persons, OCD officer-in-charge Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said.
“We are in the early recovery stage, clearing, and of course, repairing damaged facilities,” he added.
The OCD also said 1,251 people or 405 families were staying in evacuation centers while 7,357 families were staying in other places amid the ongoing aftershocks.
As 35, 925 houses were damaged from the earthquake in Region 7, Alejandro said tent cities are being set up for the temporary shelters of the affected residents.
Some damaged houses are undergoing repairs, as assistance worth P94 million has been provided so far to the earthquake victims, he said.
