NDRRMC: Nearly 2M Filipinos affected by January floods, landslides

Nearly two million Filipinos have been affected in a series of floods and landslides that hit more than 20 provinces since the start of January. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday 396,978 families or 1,986,998 people have been affected so far. "A total of 396,978 families (or) 1,986,998 people were affected in 2,197 barangays of 189 municipalities and 18 cities," it said in its 6 a.m. Sunday update. Floods and landslides caused by heavy rains from a cold front had hit several areas in Southern Luzon, Visayas and Northeast Mindanao this month. The NDRRMC said the affected areas are:

* Southern Luzon: Palawan * Bicol Region: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Sorsogon * Western Visayas: Negros Occidental * Central Visayas: Cebu and Bohol * Eastern Visayas: Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar, and Southern Leyte * Northern Mindanao (Region X): Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental * Davao Region (Region XI): Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental * Socksargen (Region XII): South Cotabato * CaragaRegion: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur * Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Maguindanao

At least 1,524 families or 7,264 people are still housed in 52 evacuation centers, the NDRRMC said. Moreover, it said the death toll as of Sunday remained at 75, with at least 22 missing and 13 injured. Some 753 houses were destroyed while 4,610 were damaged. Damage to property was estimated at P2 billion – P659.533 million in agriculture and P1.372 billion in infrastructure. Areas placed under state of calamity were:

* Bicol: Albay province; Juban, Sorsogon * Western Visayas: Silay and Victorias Cities, Negros Occidental * Central Visayas: Mandaue and Cebu Cities, Cebu; Bohol province * Eastern Visayas: Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte; Eastern Samar; Western Samar * Davao Region (Region XI): Talaingod and Sto. Tomas, Compostela Valley; Brgy Darong, Sta Cruz, Davao del Sur * Caraga: Surigao del Sur; Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Bunawan, Esperanza, San Francisco and Sibagat in Agusan del Sur; Surigao City in Surigao del Norte; and Dinagat Islands.

— LBG, GMANews.TV