Emong exits; death toll at 26

Heavy rains, flooding and landslides caused by typhoons Crising, Dante and Emong and the southwest monsoon over the past week has resulted in at least 26 casualties.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN, Ghio Ong, Christine Boton

The death toll based on reports received and consolidated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) has been rising daily. Of the fatalities, 12 have been validated or verified to have been directly caused by the weather disturbances, including nine deaths in Metro Manila. The NDRRMC added that eight persons remain missing and remain subject of continuing search and rescue operations in Western Visayas, Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Central Luzon.

As of yesterday, the total number of families affected over the past days has reached 1,295,808 or 4,679,046 persons. Of this number, 49,992 families (179,231 persons) are still taking temporary shelter in 1,448 evacuation centers across communities nationwide.