Floods death toll at 33; 880K people affected — NDRRMC

(Updated 2 p.m.) The number of people affected by floods and landslides brought by a cold front's heavy rains neared 900,000, even as the death toll rose to 33 early Saturday. In its 6 a.m. update, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also said at least nine people remained missing. Among the latest fatalities were:

* Esorio Daniel, 47, of Bobongon village in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte (drowning); * Angelo Arniba Siega, 5, of Nueva St., Surigao City (drowning); and * Melvin Gonzales, 23, P-5 Sta. Irene, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur

Reported missing were six from Catanduanes in the Bicol region and three from Agusan del Sur. These included:

* Patricio Peregrino, 56, Sta. Cruz, Virac, Catanduanes; * Rannie and Ricky Villar; Joseph, Litoy and Jerry Soledad of Cagdarao village in Panganiban, Catanduanes; * Bartolome and Relos Rabonque of Balubo village in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur (swept by high water level of Ojot River); and * Ronnie Jupson, 19, P-3 Mandagao Poblacion in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur (drowning).

The NDRRMC said the rains and landslides had affected some 171,724 families or 883,128 people in 849 villages in 113 towns and eight cities in 21 provinces. While most of the fatalities died due to drowning and landslides, Manuel Madelo, a 28-year-old from Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur, died of electrocution. Rains have already subsided since Friday but the effects of the flooding and landslides continued to be felt in the affected provinces in southern Luzon, as well as eastern Visayas and Mindanao.

A girl of Barangay Borbon, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, shows how deep floodwater is in their neighborhood, days after heavy rains stopped. Ben Serrano

Of the seven regions heavy rains had battered, Caraga region in Mindanao was hardest hit with some 93,660 families or 486,819 people affected; Eastern Visayas with 34,928 families or 183,226 people; and Region 11 (Davao region) with 21,610 families or 108,827 people. Damage to property was estimated at P431.876 million, including P108.821 million to agriculture, P323.023 million to infrastructure, and P31,300 to private properties. At least 163 houses were destroyed and 244 damaged. Areas under a state of calamity are:

*Surigao del Sur; * Bunawan, Esperanza, San Francisco and Sibagat towns in Agusan del Sur; * Butuan City in Agusan del Norte; and * Surigao City in Surigao del Norte

Cold front The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said intermittent rains that had been pouring since late December are caused by the tail-end of cold front. Heavy rains in the affected regions peaked between January 1 to January 4, PAGASA added. Meanwhile, environmental groups have blamed the deadly floods to logging and forest-clearing activities, and even mining operation in the mountains of Caraga. They said deforestation has minimized the soils capacity to hold runoff rainwater. Meanwhile, a Balitanghali report last Friday said Philippine Air Force choppers conducted an aerial survey to assess the situation in Southern Leyte, particularly in St. Bernard town. St. Bernard town mayor Rico Rentuza said Santa Cruz village, though not flooded, remained isolated. He said they are still revising their evacuation plan based on the findings of the survey. — with Ben Serrano and Mark D. Merueñas / LBG, GMANews.TV