Typhoon Inday, Monsoon Leave 17 Dead, Over 514,000 Affected

MANILA, Philippines — At least 17 people have died while more than half a million people have been affected by Typhoon Inday (international name: Bavi) and the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Saturday. In its 6 a.m. situational report, the NDRRMC said 17 fatalities had been recorded due to drowning and landslides, although all reported casualties are still subject to validation. Ten of the reported deaths were from Malapatan, Sarangani, five were from Calanogas, Lanao del Sur, and two were from Bukidnon. The disaster agency also reported four injured individuals, including two from Calanogas and one each from Torrijos, Marinduque, and Malapatan. All were injured in separate landslide incidents. Meanwhile, nine people remain missing — six from Calanogas and three from Malapatan. The combined effects of Inday and the southwest monsoon have affected 112,500 families, or around 514,700 individuals, across the country, according to the NDRRMC. Of those affected, around 2,900 families have been displaced and are temporarily staying in 77 evacuation centers. The NDRRMC said the government has so far extended P16.41 million worth of assistance to affected residents. Earlier Saturday, PAGASA announced that Inday had exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 8:20 a.m. As of 10 a.m., the typhoon was located 590 kilometers north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 170 kph. Although Inday has left PAR, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon, enhanced by the typhoon, may continue to bring rains over parts of the country.