Vinta leaves 164 dead, 171 missing —NDRRMC

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday said at least 164 have been killed and 171 remain missing following the onslaught of Tropical Storm Vinta.

"Initially ito po 'yung natanggap ng ating ahensya: for the dead 164, for the missing 171," NDRRMC spokesperson Romina Marasigan said in a press briefing.

"Talagang it's very sad na sa araw ng Kapaskuhan at habang tayo ay busy with our families, tayo ay nalulungkot at naghihinagpis sa nangyaring ito," she added.

Marasigan was quick to say that the death toll is still being verified by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

"Let me stress na itong mga numero na binibigay natin ngayon is for the verification and confirmation of the DILG. Marami po kasi kaming mga reports na nakalap overnight at napansin ng ating mga kasamahan, lalo na at unconfirmed, minsan binabangga doon sa mga unconfirmed reports ng OCD (Office of Civil Defense), ng DILG, ng PNP (Philippine National Police) at may mga nadodoble," she said.

Relief operations

Meanwhile, Marasigan said search, rescue and retrieval operations continue in areas affected by Vinta, saying the NDRRMC has deployed 500 teams composed of about 4,000 people in the provinces.

Marasigan said more than 1,600 family food packs were transported via Philippine Airlines while non-food items will be flown in the Armed Forces' C-130 aircraft.

The NDRRMC official said an estimated P3.1 million worth of aid were already released to help Vinta victims.

State weather bureau PAGASA said Vinta exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday morning. 

Vinta was last spotted 510 kilometers southwest of Pagasa Island, Palawan as of 3 a.m.

PAGASA said parts of northern and southern Luzon may experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country, on the other hand, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.

Marasigan said PAGASA monitored a low pressure area (LPA) which can possibly enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on New Year, January 1.

However, Marasigan said the LPA can still change its course and the initial weather forecast on New Year remains good.

"Rest assured ang national council will always be on top of this. We will continue to monitor this weather disturbance. Maaari pa rin itong magdala ng pag-uulan pero so far ang initial forecast ng PAGASA is maganda naman ang ating panahon sa susunod na araw," she said. —KG, GMA News