5.1 million people affected by Habagat, cyclones Luis, Maymay — NDRRMC

The number of people affected by the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, and cyclones Luis and Maymay has reached 5,146,748, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday.

The figure translates to 1,468,226 families affected by the weather disturbances, according to the NDRRMC.

Of the total, 21,591 people, or 6,338 families, are still staying in evacuation centers, the agency said.

The affected residents are from the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, CALABARZON, the Cordillera Administrative Region, the National Capital Region and MIMAROPA.

At least 26 people have been confirmed dead, according to the NDRRMC. The highest number of fatalities was recorded in Benguet, where all 15 victims were killed in landslides.

Rizal and Batangas recorded three deaths each, while Caloocan City recorded two. La Union, Quezon and Negros Occidental each reported one death.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC recorded 17 injuries. One person remains missing in Batangas City.

The NDRRMC said 1,989 houses were damaged, 203 of them totally destroyed.

Damage to infrastructure is estimated at P3.1 billion, while agricultural damage is estimated at P1.4 billion.

The government has reportedly provided P760.11 million in assistance.

While Luis and Maymay have already passed, the southwest monsoon has continued to bring rains across the Philippines for several consecutive weeks, the NDRRMC said.— MCG, GMA News