Heavy rains kill 1, displace over 100K families, damage P500M crops, infrastructure–NDRRMC

At least one person was killed, over 100,000 families affected and about P500 million worth of crops and infrastructure were damaged across seven regions in the country due to strong rains, according to the government's disaster agency.

A man braves heavy showers and winds while inspecting his corn farm as Super Typhoon Goring brushes past Ilagan City, Isabela Province, north of Manila on August 27, 2023. AFP PHOTO

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Friday that the unidentified fatality was from Western Visayas.

So far, a total of 106,677 families, or 387,242 individuals from Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were affected by the monsoon rains that were enhanced by Super Typhoon “Goring,” which had exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility, and Severe Tropical Storm “Hanna,” the NDRRMC said.

Calabarzon is Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon. Mimaropa is Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan.

A state of calamity was declared in Pototan, Iloilo on Thursday and a total of 3,559 persons, or 956 families, were pre-emptively evacuated, the NDRRMC said.

The NDRRMC said of the affected population, 21,701 persons or 5,152 families were staying in 293 evacuation centers while 24,827 individuals or 6,092 families were taking shelter in other places.

A total of 482 houses were damaged — 371 partially and 111 totally — in Ilocos, Cagayan, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and CAR.

Damage to agriculture and infrastructure was pegged at P395,246,593 and P41,216,200 respectively.

At least 28 roads and 12 bridges in the affected areas were also rendered impassable.

A total of 240 classes and 94 work schedules were suspended because of the cyclones.

Various government agencies have, so far, provided assistance worth a combined total of P16,498,997.

The NDRRMC said it has activated National and Regional Emergency Operations Centers to deal with the effects of Goring and Hanna.