By Brian Campued
The death toll due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine in most of Luzon and parts of Visayas has risen to 13, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Of this number, only the fatality in Calabarzon has been confirmed while the rest are still undergoing validation, the NDRRMC said.
In its situational report issued at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, the disaster body said 11 of these deaths were reported in Bicol Region, while one was from Central Luzon.
Also undergoing validation are the seven reported missing—five in Bicol Region and one each from Calabarzon and Ilocos Region; as well as five injuries—four in Bicol Region and one from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
STS Kristine has affected 569,524 families or about 2,656,446 individuals across 3,483 barangays in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga, BARMM, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
A total of 64,447 families or 239,200 persons are currently in 5,791 evacuation centers, while 19,961 families or around 80,497 individuals are outside the centers.
Meanwhile, a total of P111,133,601.54 worth of humanitarian assistance has been distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as of 6:00 a.m. Friday.
In a progress report by the agency’s Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DROMIC), over P2.8 billion are still available both in standby funds and as cost of food and non-food items.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday has also reiterated his directive to concerned agencies to ramp up rescue and relief efforts in mitigating the impacts of Kristine.
Kristine is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday afternoon or evening, according to PAGASA.
—iro