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'Ondoy' death toll may have exceeded 200, still climbing


(UPDATE 6 as of 7:50 p.m.) The total number of fatalities from “Ondoy" that submerged some areas in Central Luzon and Calabarzon in mud and water may already be more than 200. But the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has placed the death toll at 140 as of 4 p.m. Monday, pending reports from local government units. Ninety-six were killed in Region IV-A or the Calabarzon area; 36 died in Region III or in Central Luzon; seven in National Capital Region and one in the Cordillera Administrative Region. The number of missing individuals remained at 32. Five people were injured during the height of the storm. A total of 90,223 families were affected or 453,033 people in 398 barangays. (CLICK here to see latest NDCC SITUATION REPORT)

More deaths But reports from local government units (LGUs) and volunteer groups showed that the number of fatalities, could be higher as more flooded areas have been reached by rescuers and relatives of victims. In Rizal province alone, 82 deaths were recorded, according to radio reports quoting Gov. Casimiro Ynares, Sunday evening. A separate counting by the Parish Pastoral Council claimed that 36 people died in Brgy. Silangan in Quezon City. But the Quezon City police said 45 bodies had been found. In Marikina City, at least 58 were killed, according to reports reaching Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. In Antipolo City, 22 people died, while four went missing. City mayor Danilo Leyble told radio dzBB Monday afternoon that he received the report about the casualties at 10 a.m., adding that eight of the 22 fatalities were from Barangay (village) San Jose, while the rest were from barangays Dela Paz, Sta. Cruz, and Cupang. In Bulacan province, at east 23 people died and two others went missing, Liz Mungcal, executive officer of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Management Council, told GMANews.TV at 3 p.m., Monday. She said only the towns of Pandi and San Ildefonso were spared by the storm. The rest - 19 municipalities and three cities covering 209 barangays (villages) - were badly hit by Ondoy, affecting 63,962 families or 252,979 people. In Laguna province, Ernesto Montencillo, provincial social welfare officer told GMANews.TV that eight had died as of 1 p.m., Monday. There were 72,170 families or 310,593 people affected by the storm in 19 municipalities covering 150 barangays (villages). Anomalous Ondoy brought rains that weather specialists described as “anomalous." While it did not develop into a typhoon, Ondoy brought rains of 341 millimeters (mm) in the first six hours that it struck Metropolitan Manila on Saturday, breaking the highest 24-hour rainfall of 334 mm in Metropolitan Manila in June 1967, according to the Philippines’ weather forecasting bureau. The Philippines’ maximum annual rainfall is only 4,064 mm or 338.6 per month or 11.3 mm per day. Ondoy’s 341-mm of rain in six hours was equivalent to more than 30 days of rainfall. In its latest report, the NDCC also said that damage in property caused by Ondoy was worth P1.4 billion, including 204 houses totally destroyed, and 354 houses partially destroyed. Two more weather disturbances? Still reeling from Ondoy's wrath, state weather forecasters said on Monday that the country could be hit by two other tropical depressions later this week. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)'s forecaster Connie Dadivas said the two weather disturbances might enter Philippine territory late Wednesday or Thursday. But another Pagasa forecaster Joel Jesusa, said the two low pressure areas (LPA) were still far away to affect any part of the country for now. "Malayo pa po, sobrang layo pa ang binabanggit nating dalawang LPA, 1,000 km pa ito (The two LPAs are still too far away, they are about 1,000 km away)," he said on dzXL radio. He added that the two LPAs were moving west-northwest as of Monday. Earlier in the day, Pagasa said Ondoy continued to move farther away from the country, moving toward Vietnam. - GMANews.TV
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