Floods, landslides kill at least 20 people in southern Philippines
214k families affected as heavy rains drench southern provinces
Manila: The impact of the northeast monsoon has reportedly left at least 20 people dead in several provinces in the south, according to emergency responders.
The monsoon, coupled with what weathermen called a "trough of a low pressure area (LPA)" brought rains in southern Mindanao region from January 28 to February 2, resulting in deadly floods and landslides, data from the national disaster agency show.
Landslides were reported in Northern Mindanao Davao Region, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Among those affected include 214,132 families, corresponding to 812,638 individuals across 564 villages, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday.
Davao de Oro province reported that 13 people lost their lives, with two individuals still missing, while neighbouring Davao del Norte recorded 7 fatalities, responders said told Reuters.
About 85,000 people sought refuge in evacuation centers.
The lethal combination of a northeast monsoon and a low-pressure area's trough led to persistent rains in the southern Mindanao region lasting for six days until February 2.
An environmental group has blamed the recent deluge in the region to the declining forest cover, extensive land conversion, and inadequate urban planning.
The death toll of 20 is preliminary, and is still being verified by the council.
The current situation also involves 22,573 families (85,285 individuals) receiving assistance in 331 active evacuation centers. An additional 92,898 families (312,873 persons) are being aided outside these centre, the official Philippine News Agency reported on Monday.
According to the latest update, the Office of Civil Defense reported the affected families encompass both those displaced and those not requiring relocation from their homes.
The NDRRMC is in the process of verifying reports of 20 deaths and three missing individuals, all concentrated in the Davao Region. Damage reports include 101 houses in Davao Region and Caraga.
In a tragic recurrence, mid-January had witnessed another incident where 18 people lost their lives due to floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in the southern Philippines. The nation, comprised of over 7,600 islands, experiences frequent landslides and floods, given its susceptibility to approximately 20 tropical storms annually.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. praised the personnel of the 10th Infantry Division headquartered in Mawab, Davao de Oro, for their humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations in southeastern Mindanao, where the floods have caused significant challenges.
Gen. Brawner emphasised the dedication of Filipino soldiers in aiding their fellow countrymen during times of calamities.
‘Amihan’, easterlies to continue to bring rains across PH
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “amihan” or the northeast monsoon will affect Northern Luzon, while the easterlies will prevail over the eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao.
Flash floods or landslides may occur.
Meanwhile, the agency warned that winds will be moderate to strong in the eastern sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Moderate winds and coastal waters will be experienced in Northern Luzon. The rest of the country will have light to moderate winds and light to moderate coastal waters.