32 dead, 20 missing due to Ulysses —NDRRMC

The death toll due to Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) reached 32 as of Saturday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

Twenty-two people were injured while 20 remain missing, NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said in a message sent to reporters.

Of the 32 fatalities, 15 were from Region II, six from Calabarzon, five in Region V, and six in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). 

Of the 22 injured, three were from Region III, nine from Calabarzon, eight in Region V, and two in CAR. 

Of the 20 missing, meanwhile, five were from Region II, two from Calabarzon, eight in Region V, and five from CAR.

Estimated agricultural damage in Regions I, II, III, V, Calabarzon, and CAR reached P968 million.

Damage to infrastructure in Region I and MIMAROPA was pegged at P253 million.

A total of 3,013 houses in Region I and CAR were damaged.

Meanwhile, Timbal also said more than 3,700 personnel have already been deployed as of Saturday morning to rescue stranded individuals in Cagayan and Isabela who were affected by floods.

"We have 3,776 personnel deployed and conducting SRR [search, rescue and retrieval] to support the LGUs," Timbal said in a message sent to reporters.

Office of Civil Defense Region II Information Officer Michael Conag said the floods were caused by rains from Ulysses as well as the release of water at Magat Dam.

"Na-aggravate dahil dito sa ulan dulot ni Ulysses at iyong pag-release din ng Magat Dam [ng tubig] ay isa ring contribution. Pero hindi ho majority ay dahil sa pag-release ng Magat Dam. May tributaries din from higher areas from Nueva Vizcaya at Isabela. Bumababa din po [ang tubig mula doon]. Ang catch basin ang Cagayan po," Conag said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. —KG, GMA News