NDCC: 'Santi' death toll climbs to 29, damage nears P500M

The death toll from tropical cyclone "Santi" (Mirinae) rose further to 29 Friday morning while damage to property it caused neared the P500-million mark, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said. In its 6 a.m. update, the NDCC said the fatalities included 11 from Laguna in Southern Luzon, and 10 from Camarines Norte in Bicol. At least six remained missing, including four from Laguna, and one each from Muntinlupa City and from Camarines Norte. The NDCC said at least 101,749 families or 483,490 people from 1,018 villages in 20 cities and 121 towns in 13 provinces were affected. Of these, 3,635 families or 18,562 people remained in 95 evacuation centers. Damage to property was estimated at P494.698 million, including P307.77 million in infrastructure, P97.968 million in agriculture, P37.05 million in fisheries and P45.41 million in schools. Some 6,655 houses were destroyed while 27,385 were damaged. Electricity was still being restored in some towns in Laguna, Quezon and Rizal provinces as of 6 a.m. Impassable roads and bridges included the Paete-Famy Poblacion Road which was submerged in knee-deep floods; and Camarines Sur-Caramoan Peninsula Road. - GMANews.TV