Flood death toll in central, southern Philippines rises to 17

The death toll from Christmas season floods in central and southern Philippines rose to 17 on Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

In its 6 p.m. report, the NDRRMC said 9 deaths were reported in Northern Mindanao, 5 in the Bicol Region, two in Eastern Visayas, and one in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The NDRRMC, however, has validated only 2 casualties so far.

A total of 48,358 families or 186,459 individuals were affected by the floods. Among the affected regions are Mimaropa, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Majority of the affected families are from Bicol region, Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

Of the affected families, 10,873 or 46,479 individuals remain in 105 evacuation centers in Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Davao Region.

Four bridges and four roads remain unpassable, while 112 roads and one bridge are now passable.

The floods also damaged a total of 1,112 houses in the affected regions, majority of which were reported in Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Caraga region.

A total of 1,966 farmers and fisherfolk, mostly from Bicol region, were affected by the floods. Damage to agriculture has reached over P62.6 million.

The floods also caused P20.5 million worth of damage to infrastructure.

Agencies