THE NUMBER of both fatalities and missing due mainly to landslides triggered by typhoon Usman continues to climb, with the latest count at 122 dead and 28 unaccounted for, based on the 12 noon, Jan. 3 report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). As field reports flow in, the number of damaged houses, both totally and partially, has also gone up to 2,896 from less than 100 the previous day. Damage to agriculture in the regions of Bicol and Eastern Visayas alone has also been estimated at P528.5 million, higher than Tuesday’s assessment of P299.4 million covering all four affected regions, which also includes CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan). Usman weakened into a low pressure area as it made landfall in Eastern Samar on Dec. 29, but continued to bring moderate to heavy rains until Dec. 31 in central parts of the country.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR