PNP: Deaths from monsoons, storms hit 26

MANILA, Philippines — At least 26 people have died from the combined effects of tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat, the Philippine National Police reported.

In its latest report released yesterday afternoon, the PNP said 16 of the fatalities were from landslides in Baguio City, La Trinidad and Atok in Benguet.

Seven others died from rockslides, drowning, electrocution and a fallen tree in Rodriguez, Binangonan and Antipolo City in Rizal.

Two men died of electrocution and drowning in La Union and Pangasinan while a policeman drowned in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

In Batangas, a 23-year-old Bantay Dagat member died of electrocution while assisting Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel in pulling a boat toward the shoreline in Barangay Sawang, Lobo, Monday afternoon. The victim, identified by the alias Chris, was declared dead on arrival at the Lobo Municipal Hospital.

PNP spokesman Col. Allen Rae Co said police data remain subject to validation by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and other government agencies.

As of yesterday, around 2.27 million people nationwide have been affected by the combined effects of Luis, Maymay and the monsoon. Of the total, 94,997 people are temporarily staying in 919 evacuation centers, according to the NDRRMC.

To aid those affected, the government has distributed more than P73.5 million worth of food and non-food assistance, while 3,187 police officers have been deployed to assist in relief operations.

PCG personnel were also deployed to assist 419 stranded passengers at 11 sea ports in the Coast Guard districts of Western Visayas, Southern Tagalog and Central Visayas.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) extended its condolences to the families of five learners who died in the landslide in Barangay Guisad Surong, Baguio City, which killed 10 people and injured three others.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of five of our learners in the landslide in Barangay Guisad Surong,” DepEd said in a statement.

The fatalities included two Grade 7 learners from Guisad Valley National High School, one Grade 3 learner and one Grade 4 learner from Bonifacio Elementary School and one learner under the Alternative Learning System.

Less rain soon

The country may soon see a break from the recent spell of inclement weather.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration announced yesterday that less rain is expected in the coming days as the weather disturbances that have been affecting the southwest monsoon move farther away.

PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja, however, said the monsoon would continue to bring intermittent rains and cloudy skies over parts of Luzon.

The disaster has caused an estimated P1.456 billion in infrastructure damage and more than P135.3 million in agricultural losses. — Michael Punongbayan, Arnell Ozaeta, Ric Sapnu, Jun Elias, Bella Cariaso, Artemio Dumlao, Josiah Antonio, Evelyn Macairan

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