(File photo courtesy of Zamboanga City Police Office)
MANILA – The torrential rains and floods from the low-pressure area, shear line, and northeast monsoon that affected many parts of the country since Jan. 2 have so far claimed 44 lives, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Wednesday.
In its latest disaster bulletin, the agency said the affected regions are Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Of the death toll, 20 have been verified.
The OCD put the number of injured and missing persons at 11 and eight, respectively, and the affected population at 497,774 families, equivalent to 2,047,222 individuals.
It estimated the damage to agriculture and infrastructure at PHP1.059 billion and PHP521 million, respectively, and placed the number of damaged houses at 1,888.
The government has so far provided PHP114.4 million worth of assistance to affected individuals. (PNA)
