The reported fatalities due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) have increased to 85, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Sunday.
OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, however, said they will still validate if the causes of death of the 85 individuals were really due to the effects of the recent storm.
“Mabilis ang pagtaas dahil pumapasok na ang mga reports. Actually from 81, naging 85 na ho ‘yan (nasawi),” Nepomuceno said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
(The death toll is increasing fast because the reports are now coming. From 81, there are now 85 reported dead.)
The OCD official said they expect the number of fatalities to still increase as there are 41 individuals who remain missing.
“‘Yung mga nasaktan, naiulat sa atin ‘yan, 70 ‘yun. Inaasahan nating aangat rin po ‘yan,” he added.
(There 70 individuals injured and this number may still increase too.)
Nepomuceno said many of the casualties were victimized by landslides, and some due to flooding.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), there were 158 areas that have so far declared a state of calamity in the aftermath of Kristine.
Among the areas under state of calamity is Batangas, where 54 people died, 18 were injured, and 21 were missing, according to police.
Seven barangays in Libon, Albay, meanwhile remained isolated as of Saturday due to several landslides.
The Department of Public Works and Highways on Saturday said 21 national roads were still closed to traffic following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine this week.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday went to Camarines Sur and said relief efforts were hampered in the Bicol Region due to floods that have yet to recede. —KG, GMA Integrated News
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