NDRRMC: 'Mina' death toll hits 25; damage up to P1.1B

(Updated 4:34 p.m.) The death toll from tropical cyclone Mina (Nanmadol) rose to 25 even as the estimated damage to property went up to P1.1 billion early Tuesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. In its 6 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said the latest fatalities included those from Baguio City and Abra in Cordillera; and from Zamboanga del Sur in Mindanao. In a phone interview later in the afternoon, NDRRMC executive officer Benito Ramos said the latest death toll now included the two killed in a landslide in Olongapo City and an unidentified male hit by lightning in Janiway, Iloilo last August 28. At least 21 were reported injured while 12 people remained missing, including five unidentified fishermen aboard a motor banca in Pangasinan. In its 6 a.m. update, the NDRRMC identified the recent fatalities as follows:

Franco Flores, 15, Irisan Dumpsite, Baguio (landslide)

Noemi Cael, 22, Km 8, Asin Road, Baguio City (landslide)

Dindo Candido, 28, Villaviciosa, Abra (drowned)

Bragas Domingo, 70, Bucay, Abra (drowned)

Jeffrey Entag Pagatpat, 18, Brgy. Dipora, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur (landslide) In Baguio City, local officials are considering declaring a state of calamity after a deadly dumpsite accident there killed five people during the height of Mina over the weekend. Five people were killed and one was missing after heavy rains on Saturday caused the retaining wall of the Irisan dumpsite to collapse. Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan said officials are looking into establishing relocation sites for the residents in high-risk areas like the dumpsite. The NDRRMC said Mina affected at least 70,820 families or 300,959 people in 821 villages in 102 towns and seven cities in 16 provinces. Of these, 818 families or 3,713 people are being served in 24 evacuation centers. Damage to property At least 69 houses had been destroyed while 1,247 were damaged in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera. Damage to property was estimated at P1,108,108,520.54, including P51,832,077 in infrastructure and P1,056,276,443.54 in agriculture. The NDRRMC also noted 15 hectares of ricelands were damaged in Ambarihon, Buenavista and Batga villages in Tubungan town in Iloilo. Roads, bridges As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, 38 bridges and road sections remained closed to traffic due to landslides, scoured slope protection, eroded shoulders, and floods. These included:

10 roads in Region I (Ilocos)

four bridges and one road in Region II (Cagayan Valley)

two bridges and one road in Region VI (Western Visayas)

one bridge in Metro Manila

one bridge and 18 roads in Cordillera 'Downgrade' to blue alert The NDRRMC said it was to downgrade its operations center's status from red alert to blue alert effective 8 a.m. Tuesday. But it said it will continue to monitor preparedness measures and disseminate weather bulletins and flood advisories. — RSJ, GMA News