By Alec Go
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said three individuals were reported dead, 31 are missing, and four were injured due to tropical storm Jolina.
Based on its 12:00 p.m. report, one of the reported deaths and 17 of the reported missing individuals have been confirmed.
The four reported missing in Esperanza, Masbate, together with the two other casualties, four injured individuals, and 14 missing in Naro, Masbate have yet to be validated.
The NDRRMC said five of the 12 missing fisherfolks who went fishing despite the warnings “not to venture at sea in Catbalogan, Samar” have been found alive, while three additional fishermen were reported missing in Culuba, Biliran.
The storm that has affected Region 3, Mimaropa, Region 5, Region 6, Region 8, and Metro Manila has affected 341 barangays and 20,777 families or 83,650 individuals.
At least 1,943 displaced families or 7,538 displaced individuals are currently staying in evacuation centers, while 509 displaced families or 2,291 displaced persons are outside evacuation facilities.
A total of 2,321 families or 10,063 persons were pre-emptively evacuated from Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Region 8.
Damages
The NDRRMC said Jolina left 3,843 damaged houses in Mimaropa, Region 5, Region 6, Region 8, of which 3,545 were partially damaged and 298 were totally destroyed.
MIMAROPA, Region 5, Region 6, Region 8 also reported agricultural damages worth P206,112,324.85 covering 52,871.38 hectares of crop area and damage to fisheries worth P13,803,220. No agricultural infrastructures and equipment were damaged.
The impact cost to infrastructures was estimated at P24,681,500 in Mimaropa, Region 5 and Region 6.
NDRRMC said 20 cities and municipalities had power outages, while three experienced water supply interruption or outages that have yet to be restored.
Meanwhile, two airports were affected and eight domestic flights were cancelled, while 53 ports were affected that caused 295 passengers, 215 rolling cargoes, seven vessels, and a motor banca stranded in Region 1, Region 3, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Region 5, Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, Metro Manila, and Cordillera Administrative Region.
Jolina is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tonight (Sept. 9) and may “re-intensify and reach severe tropical storm category.” -rir