Habagat death toll now at 17; damage cost nears P80 million

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from the onslaught of the storm-enhanced southwest monsoon has now climbed to 17, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported Thursday morning.

Major Reynaldo Balido Jr., OCD spokesperson, said at a televised press briefing that the latest casualty was an individual whose body was found dead in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, after being previously reported missing.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) earlier said that 41 are injured and five others remained missing.

Balido said one more was reported missing in Floridablanca, Pampanga.

In its 5 a.m. report, the NDRRMC said P56.58 million and P22.28 million worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture, respectively, were incurred in Metro Manila and in the Ilocos, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa regions.

A total of 662 areas in 88 municipalities and cities from five regions in Luzon were reported flooded while 267,551 families or 1,256,508 people have been affected by the southwest monsoon.

Five provinces have been declared under a state of calamity: Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

In Metro Manila, the cities of Paranaque, Muntinlupa, Malabon, Marikina and Pasay and the municipality of Pateros are all under a state of calamity due to massive floods caused by the heavy monsoon rains.

Three other cities, eight municipalities and two villages are also under a state of calamity.