The Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday said the death toll from heavy rains triggered by Typhoon Bavi, locally named Inday, and the southwest monsoon had risen to 26.
The OCD said in a report that 14 people remain missing, adding that search, rescue and retrieval operations were continuing in the affected areas.
Heavy rains over the past week triggered floods and landslides, forcing around 13,000 people to leave their homes and seek shelter in evacuation centers.
The weather disturbances also damaged about 650 houses, suspended classes in affected areas and caused temporary power outages.
The OCD said more than 244,000 families had been displaced as of Wednesday, with over 5,000 families currently staying in 86 evacuation centers.
Food and non-food assistance worth PHP 73 million (around USD 1.18 million) has been distributed to those affected by the typhoon and the enhanced southwest monsoon.
The Philippines is among the world’s most disaster-prone countries due to its location along the western Pacific typhoon belt and the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it vulnerable to typhoons, floods, landslides, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
— KUNA
