MANILA, Philippines — At least 178 areas are under a state of calamity, with 9.1 million people across 10 regions affected by the combined effects of recent storms and prolonged monsoon rains. the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Tuesday.
The latest NDRRMC data as of 6 a.m. on Sept. 1 showed that 2.6 million families were affected in the Ilocos Region (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Bicol Region (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Calabarzon (Region 4-A), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), National Capital Region (NCR) and Mimaropa.
The widespread impact prompted local governments in parts of Luzon and other affected areas to declare states of calamity, allowing authorities to mobilize resources and expedite relief, response and recovery efforts.
Pangasinan recorded the highest number of state-of-calamity declarations at 47, followed by Bulacan with 24, Cavite with 23, Pampanga with 21, Tarlac with 18, Benguet with 14, Zambales with 13 and Bataan with 12.
Dagupan City, Rodriguez in Rizal, Nasugbu in Batangas, and three municipalities in Occidental Mindoro — Sablayan, Paluan and Abra de Ilog — also declared states of calamity.
In Pangasinan, the declarations covered Santa Barbara, Mangaldan, Bugallon, Mangatarem, Bayambang, Lingayen, Infanta and the province-wide declaration covering 39 areas.
The disasters have, so far, left 34 people dead, 19 injured and three missing.
Benguet, in the Cordillera Administrative Region, recorded the highest number of fatalities at 15, including 10 in Baguio, three in Atok and two in La Trinidad. All 15 deaths were attributed to landslides.
Other fatalities were recorded in La Union in the Ilocos Region; Pangasinan in the Ilocos Region; Rizal, Cavite, Batangas and Quezon in Calabarzon; Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro in Mimaropa; Negros Occidental in Western Visayas; and Caloocan City in the National Capital Region.
The reported causes of death included drowning, landslides, rockslides, electrocution and a fallen tree.
The three missing persons were reported in Quezon City and Manila in the National Capital Region, and Batangas City in Calabarzon. The cases in Quezon City and Manila were attributed to drowning.
Benguet also recorded the highest number of injuries at 12, with most resulting from landslides in La Trinidad, Baguio and Atok. Other injuries were reported in Ilocos Sur, Abra, Quezon City, Rizal and Cavite.
The NDRRMC said 6,175 villages had been affected across the 10 regions.
Flooding remained widespread, with 678 flooded areas reported.
The disasters also forced authorities to establish 1,255 evacuation centers, where 39,386 families or 135,905 people were staying as of the latest assessment.
The cumulative damage included P6.27 billion in infrastructure losses and P2.32 billion in agricultural damage.
A total of 3,700 houses were damaged, including 3,300 partially damaged and 458 totally damaged.
The government has provided P1.79 billion worth of assistance to affected communities, according to the NDRRMC.
The figures remain subject to validation as local governments and government agencies continue to assess the extent of damage and the needs of affected communities.
