By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
The number of reported fatalities from the torrential rains and floods caused by the shear line in late December has climbed to 52.
In its situation report on Wednesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said only 13 of these fatalities have so far been confirmed while the remaining 39 are still undergoing validation.
The confirmed deaths consist of four from Davao Region; three each from Caraga and Zamboanga Peninsula; two from Northern Mindanao; and one from Mimaropa.
Fatalities still undergoing verification are broken down into 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.
Affected families are placed at 163,320 or equivalent to 640,748 persons residing in 10 regions of the country.
Of this number, only 7,114 families or 26,015 individuals are still being aided in 170 evacuation centers while the rest have either returned home or are being helped by relatives and friends.
Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said the amount of damage to infrastructure decreased to P262.06 million from the reported PHP1.13 billion on Tuesday, attributing it to “ongoing validation efforts” of its units in the field.
The agency estimated the amount of damage to agriculture at P243.02 million. – gb