NATION

‘Crising,’ habagat death toll climbs to 7 — NDRRMC

Gabriela Baron

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday reported that at least seven individuals have died due to the effects of Tropical Storm "Crising" and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat).

Of the fatalities, two have been confirmed, while five were still being verified.

Meanwhile, seven persons were reported injured and eight were missing.

A total of 401,439 families, or 1,412,845 individuals, were affected. Of these, 141,705 were served inside 537 evacuation centers.

Infrastructure and agricultural damage were estimated at P562 million and P462 million, respectively.

Moreover, a total of 216 road sections and 13 bridges were affected.

Twenty-nine cities and municipalities have so far declared a state of calamity.

Cyclone "Dante" has intensified into a tropical storm, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday.

As of Wednesday morning, the low-pressure area (LPA) spotted west of the Babuyan Islands developed into Tropical Depression "Emong."

Another LPA, meanwhile, is still being monitored outside PAR and has a "high" chance of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.