MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from the massive flooding in northern Luzon has risen to 14 while the estimated damage to crops and fisheries has exceeded P404 million, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.
The NDRRMC said 11 of the fatalities came from Cagayan Valley, two from Central Luzon, and one from the Cordillera Administrative Region. Majority of the victims were buried by landslides. Two people from Aurora province were injured, while two others from Cagayan Valley were reported missing.
Meanwhile, the amount of agricultural and fisheries losses arising from the floods has reached P404.75 million.
New losses in the fisheries sector were reported yesterday as the floods damaged 641,187 kilograms of fingerlings and marketable fish and 294.53 hectares of fishponds in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya.
The damage in the fisheries amounted to about P88.564 million.
Crop losses in Cagayan Valley remained at P313.75 million, representing 30,092 hectares of palay and corn.
Agricultural damage in Central Luzon hit P2.44 million and covered 78 hectares of rice, vegetable, fruit trees, and fishery.
The NDRRMC said the number of affected families has risen to 115,563 or 460,168 people. Of these, 2,723 families or 12,400 people were housed in 69 evacuation centers.
The floods damaged 46 houses in Aurora, Cagayan, and Apayao.
The amount of assistance provided by the national government and local government units has reached P9.73 million.
The NDRRMC said the health department has prepared various medicine worth P1.23 million for delivery to the affected areas.
The agency also pre-positioned Oresol and water disinfectant to address possible water-borne diseases in the flooded communities.
A team of sailors and Marines has been deployed to Isabela to assist the flood victims.
Members of the team, who are on board BRP Dagupan City, were tasked to conduct clearing operations, create communication lines, and provide engineering assistance to ravaged towns of the province.
Personnel of the Philippine National Police and the Special Action Forces were also sent to assist those who were forced to leave their houses and live along the national road in Baggao, Amulung, Alcala, Iguig, Apad and Tuguegarao in Cagayan. - By Alexis Romero
