OCD: 85 dead due to ‘Kristine’

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced on Sunday, October 27, that the recorded death toll from Severe Tropical Storm Kristine has risen to 85.

OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, however, said the number is still pending validation.

Nepomuceno added the agency also anticipates the death toll to rise further, as 41 individuals are still unaccounted for.

The OCD has also recorded 70 injured individuals, and this number is expected to increase.

In a separate report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 1,415,438 families, accounting for 5,784,298 individuals, were affected by the inclement weather.

Of these, 91,189 families received assistance within 7,484 evacuation centers, while 48,250 families were supported outside of evacuation centers.

A total of 158 areas across the country have been declared under a state of calamity due to Kristine, according to the NDRRMC.

Bicol Region has the highest number of areas placed under a state of calamity with 78 cities and municipalities. Following Bicol Region is Calabarzon with 63 areas and Region 8 with 13 areas under state of calamity.

Region 1, Cordillera Administrative Region, National Capital Region, and Region 12 have one area each under state of calamity.

Meanwhile, a total of 207 infrastructures were damaged amounting to P825,130,698.

A total of 520 road sections and 84 bridges were affected with 218 roads and 40 bridges not passable.

Separate data from the Department of Education also recorded 38,333 schools being damaged by Kristine, with 863 classrooms completely damaged and 1,026 partially damaged classrooms.

An estimated 74,201.16 metric tons of agricultural products were also damaged during the inclement weather amounting to P1,432,229,305.62, according to the Department of Agriculture.