Four Dead, Over 133,000 Affected by Tropical Cyclones and Monsoon in Philippines

At least four people have died, while nearly 133,000 individuals have been affected by the combined effects of Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay and the southwest monsoon, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Friday. Two of the reported fatalities, along with one injury, were caused by a landslide in Benguet, OCD Deputy Spokesperson Diego Agustin Mariano said, citing data as of 6:00 a.m. The two other reported deaths were caused by a rockslide in Rodriguez, Rizal. The OCD said validation of the reported deaths remains ongoing. The Philippine National Police also reported two drowning deaths, which the OCD said are still being validated to determine whether they were caused by the recent inclement weather. “If they are verified or validated to be caused by the weather systems, they will be added to our report,” Mr. Mariano told reporters via Viber. Meanwhile, the number of people affected by the recent inclement weather has reached nearly 133,000, or about 40,000 families, Mr. Mariano said. Of these, 6,215 individuals, or 2,021 families, are taking shelter in 61 evacuation centers. Mr. Mariano said the affected population is concentrated in Regions I, II, III, V, IX, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). A total of 14 houses were damaged, with 13 sustaining partial damage and one totally damaged. More than P3.5 million worth of assistance has already been provided to individuals affected by the recent inclement weather, the OCD said. — Edg Adrian A. Eva