The death toll from the heavy monsoon rain in past days rose to 19 as of Thursday morning, even as almost two million have been affected by the rain, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

 

In its 6 a.m. Thursday update, the NDRRMC also said 154 roads and four bridges remained impassable, most of them in Metro Manila.

 

Of the 19 fatalities, nine were victims of a landslide in Quezon City; eight were victims of drowning; and two died of electrocution, it said:

 

At least three people were reported missing, it added.

 

The NDRRMC said the rain affected 454,093 families or 1,953,481 people in 1,529 villages in 128 towns and 30 cities in 16 provinces.

 

Of these, 61,895 families or 292,809 people are being served in 488 evacuation centers.

 

Floods, damage

 

The NDRRMC said 89 cities and towns in Metro Manila, Ilocos, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon had severe flooding.

 

It said these included 21 towns in Southern Luzon and 15 cities and one town in Metro Manila.

 

At least 358 houses were destroyed while 2,677 were damaged, it added.

 

Flooded government hospitals included:

 

The Department of Health also raised a Code Blue alert and activated its 24-hour operation center and medical response teams.

 

Price control, state of calamity

 

The Department of Interior and Local Government ordered provincial and city directors to activate their local price coordinating councils to stop hoarding and profiteering.

 

Several areas in Metro Manila and parts of Palawan were placed under a state of calamity.

 

Those in Metro Manila include Marikina, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, San Juan, Pasig, Pasay, Caloocan and Pateros.

 

In Palawan, areas under a state of calamity included Culion, El Nido and Lincapan. –KG, GMA News