By Arabella Asis
At least 72 people died from over 50 drowning incidents across the country during the Holy Week break, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Monday, April 10.
At the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday, NDRRMC Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro said drowning incidents, as well as fire and vehicular accidents, were among the top cases logged during the long weekend.
Alejandro noted that while there were no isolated mass casualties recorded, most cases were reported from North Luzon.
Authorities brace for potential tropical depression
Alejandro warned the public of the possible entry of a low pressure area (LPA) that is likely to become a tropical depression.
“We are on a monitoring status [mula] Surigao hanggang Bicol, and Northern or Central Luzon. Tinitingnan natin ang effect nito,” he said.
“Kahit LPA pa po siya ay maghahanda tayo para rito at i-activate natin ang ating preparedness activities papunta sa response in the event na mag-escalate ito,” he stressed.
The state weather bureau earlier forecast the potential entry of LPA inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this week. – cf