Dante death toll rises to 4

MANILA, Philippines — Casualties due to Tropical Storm Dante have risen to four, with seven individuals reported missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The latest fatality was a 55-year-old whose body was recovered in Norala town in South Cotabato. Other casualties include a one-year-old boy from a landslide in Panoraon, Davao de Oro, a 14-year-old girl swept by flash floods and a 71-year-old drowning victim in Malalag, Davao del Sur.

In Regions VI, VIII and XI, seven were reported missing, including retired police officer Dakie Dacuscus of Hinobaan, Negros Occidental. His wife Jennylyn was recovered alive in their town, as well as resident Edmund Villaluz, who was previously tagged as missing.

Based on NDRRMC’s situation report, over 44,500 people or 9,391 families were directly affected by storm Dante (international name Choi-wan), while 12,00 individuals sought temporary shelter in 104 evacuation centers.

Two landslides, flooding, river swelling and soil erosion were reported in Region XII and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Damage

Agricultural damage currently stands at P16.2 million as of June 2, according to data from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center.

This covers 477 affected farmers located in 780 hectares of agricultural areas in Soccsksargen and Caraga regions.

The volume of production losses was placed at 505 metric tons (MT), with rice accounting for 82.4 percent (P13.2 million) of damage, followed by corn at 6.5 percent (P1.8 million), with the rest being high-value crops (P1.1 million).

The DA offered a quick response fund (QRF) to assist farmers and fisherfolk affected by the typhoon. It said 170,774 bags of rice seeds, 34,820 bags of corn seeds, and 11,227 kilos of assorted vegetables are available from the DA-Regional Field Offices, with drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry needs.

The department also urged affected farmers to avail of the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), while indemnification funds will be available from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC).

Advisory

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Storm Dante, packing 65 kilometer per hour winds near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, was forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility between last night and early this morning.

Tropical cyclone wind signals were lifted at 11 a.m. yesterday as Dante continued moving away, weakening into a tropical depression before becoming a remnant low-pressure area by tomorrow.

It is expected to re-enter the PAR today afternoon as it exits northeastward over the Bashi Channel.

PAGASA issued a gale warning over the northern and western seaboard of Northern Luzon, adding that sea travel is risky for small vessels due to rough seas.