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NDRRMC: 'Pedring' kills 35, causes over P1-B damage


The death toll from Typhoon "Pedring" (international name: Nesat) rose to 35 on Thursday morning while the damage to property rose to P1.147 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. In its 6:00 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said the most recent deaths included:

  • Mercedita Bartolome, 2, Meycauayan, Bulacan (drowning)
  • Honorado Guevarra, 72, Obando, Bulacan (drowning)
  • Jose Buno, 45, Cabangan, Zambales (drowning) The NDRRMC said 34 were reported injured while 45 were still missing. The NDRRMC said "Pedring" affected 103,852 families (or 489,849 people) in 952 villages in 31 provinces. Of these, 36,120 families (or 168,065 people) are being served in 386 evacuation centers. Damage to property According to the NDRRMC, the damage to property was estimated at P1,147,455,810.90, including:
  • P120,004,250 in infrastructure, and
  • P1,027,451,560.90 in agriculture. Some 1,670 houses were completely destroyed while 4,641 were partially-damaged. As of 6:00 a.m. Thursday, 17 bridges and 44 road sections in Cagayan Valley, Central and Southern Luzon, Bicol, Cordillera, and Metro Manila were impassable. New storm enters PHL territory While typhoon "Pedring" exited the Philippines on Wednesday, a new tropical storm, "Quiel" intensified as it entered Philippine territory before dawn on Thursday. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said "Quiel" may become a typhoon before making landfall as it can still gather strength while at sea. "Si Tropical Storm 'Quiel' ay nasa loob ng Philippine area of responsibility. Lumakas na siya, with maximum sustained winds of 105 kph na may dalang bugso ng 135 kph (kilometers per hour)," he said in a 5:30 a.m. interview on dzBB radio. As of now, however, Yumul said "Quiel," which is heading toward the Aparri-Cagayan area, is still too far and will not likely affect the country until Sunday. PAGASA's said "Quiel" was estimated at 1,240 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan as of 4:00 a.m. on Thursday. Health reminders Meanwhile, health authorities on Thursday reminded residents in areas affected by typhoon "Pedring" to boil their drinking water to avoid diseases. Over radio dzBB on Thursday, National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Eric Tayag said people may contract diseases such as diarrhea if the water is not clean. Tayag urged residents to boil their drinking water for at least three minutes and to place chlorine tablets in the water to kill potential disease-causing bacteria. - VVP, GMA News