Death Toll Rises to 7 as Three Cyclones Affect Over 820,000 Families.

Manila: The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported a significant impact from the recent typhoons Nika, Ofel, and Pepito, with the death toll reaching seven and over 820,831 families affected across several regions. According to Philippines News Agency, the fatalities, all from Cagayan Valley, are pending validation. The NDRRMC also documented 14 injuries, with 11 confirmed cases from the Cordillera region and Central Luzon. Reports of three injured individuals in Cagayan Valley and three missing persons in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley are still under review. Families affected by the cyclones encompass 3,031,171 individuals residing in 5,859 barangays across the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Cordillera. The agency noted that 82,810 families, or 288,566 persons, are currently receiving aid in 2,693 evacuation centers, while 43,015 families, or 154,291 individuals, are being assisted outside these centers. A preemptive eva cuation measure saw 212,161 families, comprising 721,369 individuals, relocated from the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and the National Capital Region. Additionally, the number of damaged houses has reached 22,421 across six regions, with 19,014 partially damaged and 3,407 completely destroyed. The estimated damage to agriculture and infrastructure stands at PHP8.64 million and PHP1.54 billion, respectively, highlighting the extensive impact of the cyclones.