‘Enteng’ death toll rises to 15; 21 people still missing — OCD

September 4, 2024 | 5:01pm

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll from Severe Tropical Storm Enteng (international name: Yagi) left at least 15 people dead with 21 others missing, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Wednesday, September 4. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. convened with different government agencies on the status of their responses to Enteng. 

“On casualties, there are 15 dead, 15 injured, and 21 missing, reported, but these are still subject to validation,” OCD Director of the Operations Service Cesar Idio told Marcos. 

According to the OCD, the reported deaths were as followed: 

• Rizal – eight fatalities due to drowning and landslides 
• Negros Occidental – one fatality due to drowning 
• Cebu City – two fatalities due to rain-induced landslides and collapsed riprap 
• Northern Samar – two fatalities, cause not yet reported 
• Naga – two fatalities due to electrocution and drowning 

For the missing persons, Idio said there are 15 missing fisherfolk in Camarines Norte, three missing persons in Samar, two missing in Northern Samar, and one missing in Biliran. 

Meanwhile, 10 people were injured in Cebu City due to a collapsed riprap and rain-induced landslides. There were also four persons injured in Northern Samar and another one injured in Naga due to electrocution.  

In the OCD’s report, the number of persons affected by Enteng has so far reached 1,720,563. An estimated 88,077 people are still inside evacuation centers. 

Citing data from the Department of Agriculture, damage to crops currently stands at P350.85 million, with 13,623 farmers affected and a production loss of 14,814 metric tons. 

Damage to infrastructure is also estimated to be a hefty P200,000.000. 

Preparing for future storms

After receiving the report, Marcos told the agencies to prepare for the prospective cyclone that may arrive next week. 

PAGASA has forecast that there are three other tropical cyclone-like vortices, which are weather systems that may develop into a cyclone, which could enter the Philippine area of responsibility in the coming days. 

“After everything that we do for Enteng continues, this storm is going to come in,” Marcos said. 

Marcos said that the government agencies are relying on PAGASA’s forecast to guide their actions, but acknowledged that the weather is unpredictable. 

“We must assume that whatever we do now for the immediate needs for the people who are in the areas have been hit hard, let us think that another one is coming,” Marcos said. 

Marcos instructed Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian to continue the procurement of relief goods to prepare for possible disasters.