Flood triggered by storm in Camarines Sur, the Philippines (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The death toll from heavy rains that triggeredlandslides and flash flooding in the Philippines rose to 122, said thePhilippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) onJanuary 3.
The NDRRMC said that 37 new deaths were reported in connection with therecent tropical depression. The victims were all from the worst-hit region of Bicol,which now has an overall total of 105 deaths. Officials said the deaths in theregion were mostly caused by landslides, triggered by heavy rains.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to visit the Bicolregion on January 4. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Presidentwants to see for himself the destruction brought about by the heavy rains andensure that measures are being done to alleviate the plight of those affectedby the storm.
NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad has also attributed the highnumber of reported casualties from storm Usman to the failure of preemptiveevacuation of residents living in risky areas amid warnings of heavy rains thatmay trigger flooding and landslides.
Usman swept through the central Philippine islands on December 29, bringingheavy rain that triggered landslides and flooding in the Bicol and easternVisayas regions.
Damage to agriculture in Bicol, which produces rice and corn, wasestimated at 342 million pesos (6.5 million USD).
Philippine officials put three provinces under a “state of calamity” togive them access to emergency funds.
About 20 tropical storms lash the Philippines each year, killinghundreds of people. The country’s deadliest storm on record is Super TyphoonHaiyan, which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing across the centralPhilippines in November 2013.–VNA
The NDRRMC said that 37 new deaths were reported in connection with therecent tropical depression. The victims were all from the worst-hit region of Bicol,which now has an overall total of 105 deaths. Officials said the deaths in theregion were mostly caused by landslides, triggered by heavy rains.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to visit the Bicolregion on January 4. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Presidentwants to see for himself the destruction brought about by the heavy rains andensure that measures are being done to alleviate the plight of those affectedby the storm.
NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad has also attributed the highnumber of reported casualties from storm Usman to the failure of preemptiveevacuation of residents living in risky areas amid warnings of heavy rains thatmay trigger flooding and landslides.
Usman swept through the central Philippine islands on December 29, bringingheavy rain that triggered landslides and flooding in the Bicol and easternVisayas regions.
Damage to agriculture in Bicol, which produces rice and corn, wasestimated at 342 million pesos (6.5 million USD).
Philippine officials put three provinces under a “state of calamity” togive them access to emergency funds.
About 20 tropical storms lash the Philippines each year, killinghundreds of people. The country’s deadliest storm on record is Super TyphoonHaiyan, which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing across the centralPhilippines in November 2013.–VNA
VNA
