Over 100 people have now died as a result of landslides and flooding in the Philippines following days of heavy rain brought by Tropical Depression “Usman”.
Usman first hit the country on 29 December, 2018 and has since weakened into a low-pressure area although the heavy rain has continued.
According to a report by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), 191,600 people have been affected across Regions IV-A (Calabarzon), IV-B (Mimaropa), V (Bicol Region) and VIII (Eastern Visayas). Over 40 houses have been destroyed and 28 damaged.
Flooding has been reported in over 200 locations as well as numerous damaging landslides, particularly in Bicol Region. Almost 80,000 people have been displaced from their homes with around 25,000 staying in 170 evacuation centres and others staying with friends or family.
The storm has caused severe damage to agriculture, with costs estimated at over $6.5 million. Roads have been affected in 95 locations and 26 power lines damaged.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that, as of 03 January 2019, 122 deaths have been reported.
The deaths include 105 people in five provinces in the Bicol Region, 13 fatalities were reported in Eastern Visayas and 4 in the provinces of Laguna, Calabarzon Region, and Oriental Mindoro, Mimaropa Region. The NDRMMC also reported that 28 people remained missing while around 60 people have been injured.
