The number of reported fatalities in the torrential rains and floods caused by the shear line over the week past Christmas Day has climbed to 52, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
Meanwhile, the NDRRMC estimated the amount of damage to infrastructure at P262.06 million, a sharp decline from P1.13 billion as earlier reported, attributing the correction to ongoing validation by field units.
The agency placed losses to agriculture at P243.02 million.
In its updated report, the NDRRMC clarified however, that only 13 of the reported fatalities have so far been confirmed, while the remaining 39 are still undergoing validation.
The confirmed deaths consisted of four from Davao Region; three each from Caraga and Zamboanga Peninsula; two from Northern Mindanao; and one from Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan).
Fatalities still undergoing verification are broken down as follows: 24 from Northern Mindanao; nine from Bicol; five from Eastern Visayas; and one from the Zamboanga Peninsula.
The number of reported injured remained at 16, two of whom have already been confirmed, while the number of missing persons climbed to 18, seven of whom have been validated.
The number of affected families was placed at 163,320 or the equivalent to 640,748 people in10 regions.
Of this number, 7,114 families or 26,015 individuals are still in 170 evacuation centers, while the others have either returned home or are being helped by relatives and friends.