MANILA, Philippines — Rains and floods caused by low-pressure areas that have affected the country since Jan. 2 have so far claimed the lives of at least 11 persons, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said yesterday.
OCD Joint Information Center head Diego Agustin Mariano said these reported casualties are separate from the 52 fatalities of shear line rains during Christmas week last month.
He told The STAR yesterday that the reported fatalities died of weather-related incidents including low-pressure areas that dissipated but still brought rainfall in the Bicol Region, the Visayas and parts of Mindanao.
He confirmed that some 263,906 persons or 63,101 families were affected by the low-pressure areas, which displaced 3,387 individuals or 815 families in various provinces.
Mariano said estimated damage to infrastructure so far has been placed at P125.4 million, while estimated damage to agriculture stands at P77.9 million.