25-7-2024 (MANILA) The nation reels in the aftermath of a deadly one-two punch delivered by Super Typhoon Carina (internationally known as Gaemi) and the unrelenting southwest monsoon, which have claimed at least 14 lives according to the latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday.
The NDRRMC’s grim update on the combined effects of Typhoon Carina, the southwest monsoon, and the remnants of Tropical Depression Butchoy, which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility last week, paints a sobering picture of the widespread devastation wrought by the severe weather conditions.
As of July 25, the NDRRMC confirmed 14 fatalities, with two individuals reported injured and two others still missing in the wake of the calamities. Of the reported deaths, six are currently undergoing validation by authorities.
The region of Calabarzon, located south of the capital Manila, bore the brunt of the tragedy, accounting for the highest number of fatalities with five deaths. The Zamboanga Peninsula in the southern part of the country followed closely behind, with four lives lost.
The sheer scale of the disaster is staggering, with the NDRRMC reporting that a staggering 1,115,272 Filipinos have been affected by the combined forces of Carina and the relentless southwest monsoon.
Remarkably, despite Typhoon Carina’s path along Luzon without making direct landfall, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the southern part of the archipelago bore the brunt of the severe weather conditions, with over 567,000 individuals impacted.
The NDRRMC further revealed that 51,726 individuals remain sheltered in evacuation centers across the country, a testament to the widespread displacement caused by the calamities.
The agricultural sector, a vital lifeline for many Filipinos, has been hit particularly hard. According to the NDRRMC’s assessment, 1,453 farmers have been affected, with over 1.3 million hectares of crop area impacted – a staggering 351,590 hectares of which are beyond recovery.
The estimated damage to agriculture stands at a staggering P9,706,852.34 with the northern Mindanao region accounting for the largest loss at P6,597.134.
