NDRRMC: Reported death toll from shear line rains, floods now 52

There are now 52 reported fatalities due to rains and floods caused by the shear line since the Christmas weekend, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.

In its 8 a.m. report, the NDRRMC said 26 of the reported deaths were in Northern Mindanao, nine in Bicol, five in Eastern Visayas, four each in Zamboanga and Davao, three in Caraga, and one in Mimaropa.

Only 13 of the reported fatalities have been validated so far, according to the NDRRMC.

Meanwhile, 18 people were still reported missing — nine in Eastern Visayas, seven in Bicol, and one each in Western Visayas and Zamboanga.

At least 16 people were also reported injured due to the impact of the shear line.

A total of 640,748 people or 163,320 families in 1,116 barangays in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Caraga, and Bangsamoro.

Of the affected population, 26,015 persons or 7,114 families were staying in 170 evacuation centers, while 41,245 people or 10,977 families were taking shelter in other places, the NDRRMC said.

Assistance worth P48,489,402.87 was provided to the victims, it added.

At least 4,689 houses were reported damaged — 3,917 partially and 772 totally — due to the effects of the shear line.

Damage to infrastructure worth over P262 million and to agriculture worth over P243 million were reported due to the rains and floods. The National Irrigation Administration also reported over P2 million in damage.

For schools alone, the estimated cost of repair and reconstruction for 41 educational institutions that sustained infrastructure damage has increased to P389.50 million, according to recent data by the Department of Education (DepEd).

These affected schools were based in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga.

DepEd spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said Wednesday that only eight schools were being used as evacuation centers, based on information from the regional directors of Northern Mindanao and Caraga as of January 3.

A total of 22 cities and municipalities were placed under state of calamity, including Brooke's Point in Palawan, Llorente in Eastern Samar, Dapitan and Polanco in Zamboanga del Norte, Gingoog in Misamis Oriental, and the entire province of Misamis Occidental.

Several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao were flooded on Christmas Day due to the effects of the shear line, the weather system formed by the meeting between a cold front and a warmer front. —Joviland Rita and Giselle Ombay/KBK/VBL, GMA Integrated News