AS moderate to heavy rainfall threatens parts of Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Monday said the three successive storms and the prevailing southwest monsoon have severely affected 102 cities and towns that remain under a state of calamity due to severe flooding.
The figure is a sharp increase from the 88 cities and towns under state of calamity in August 22.
The provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, Bulacan and Zambales have declared province-wide states of calamity owing to severe flooding.
In its Thunderstorm Advisory 2, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) Regional Services Division for the National Capital Region, which also covers nearby provinces, said that moderate to heavy rainshowers with lightning and strong winds are being experienced in Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Rizal (Rodriguez, San Mateo, Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay, Baras, Tanay), Metro Manila (Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City), and Quezon (Lucena, Pagbilao, General Nakar, Tayabas, Panukulan, Burdeos, Polillo, Patnanungan).
The NDRRMC reported that several flooding and landslides during the onslaught of Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng, and aggravated by the monsoon rains, claimed the lives of 29 persons, with three others reported missing.
The inclement weather affected 2.2 million families, or 7.5 million persons.
Because of the severe flooding that damaged some 2,500 houses, 9,858 families or 33,358 persons remain in 418 different evacuation centers for shelter, food, and medical care.
According to the NDRRMC, damage to public and private infrastructure has reached P5.1 billion, while damage to crops has reached P1.7 billion.