Four Dead, Nearly 133,000 Affected by Tropical Cyclones and Southwest Monsoon — OCD
Key Takeaways
- •At least four confirmed deaths have been attributed to the combined effects of the tropical cyclones and southwest monsoon, with two caused by a landslide in Benguet and two by a rockslide in Rizal.
- •Nearly 133,000 individuals across approximately 40,000 families have been affected by the severe weather in Regions I, II, III, V, IX, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
- •More than 6,200 displaced individuals are currently housed in 61 evacuation centers established in response to the disasters.
- •The Philippine National Police has reported two additional drowning deaths that remain under verification to determine if they are linked to the weather systems.
- •The government has distributed over P3.5 million worth of assistance to affected residents, while 14 houses have sustained damage from the storms.
At least four people have died and nearly 133,000 individuals have been affected by the combined impact of Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay and the southwest monsoon, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported on Friday.
Two of the confirmed fatalities, along with one injury, resulted from a landslide in Benguet province, according to OCD Deputy Spokesperson Diego Agustin Mariano, who cited data current as of 6:00 a.m. The two other reported deaths were caused by a rockslide in Rodriguez, Rizal.
The OCD noted that validation of all reported fatalities remains ongoing.
The Philippine National Police has also reported two drowning deaths. The OCD said these cases are still being verified to determine whether they were directly caused by the recent weather systems.
"If they are verified or validated to be caused by the weather systems, they will be added to our report," Mr. Mariano told reporters via Viber.
The total number of people affected by the inclement weather has reached nearly 133,000, or approximately 40,000 families, Mr. Mariano said. Among those affected, 6,215 individuals — comprising 2,021 families — are currently sheltering in 61 evacuation centers.
The affected population is concentrated in Regions I, II, III, V, IX, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), according to the OCD. The Philippines experiences an average of around 20 tropical cyclones each year, making disaster preparedness and rapid response a recurring national priority. The southwest monsoon, known locally as the habagat, regularly brings heavy rainfall to the western portions of the country and can intensify the effects of nearby weather systems.
Property damage includes 14 houses affected overall, with 13 sustaining partial damage and one totally damaged.
The OCD also reported that more than P3.5 million worth of assistance has already been distributed to individuals affected by the severe weather.
— Edg Adrian A. Eva
