Death toll climbs to 25 after Typhoon Mina slams the northern Philippines

Death toll climbs to 25 after Typhoon Mina slams the northern Philippines

2011-08-30 23:58:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- The death toll after Typhoon Mina slammed the northern Philippines late last week has risen to 25 as strong rains continue to affect the region, officials said on Tuesday.

According to Benito Ramos, the Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the death toll reached 25 on Tuesday while seven people remain missing. More than 30 others have been injured.

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), located on the island of Luzon, reported the most casualties with ten fatalities, followed by eight fatalities in the Ilocos Region, and three in Central Luzon. One fatality each was reported in the National Capital Region, Western Visayas, the Bicol Region, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Nearly half of the fatalities were identified as children, including one as young as 3 years old. In San Fabian town in Pangasinan province, two children aged 5 and 6 were killed after being buried in a landslide.

An NDRRMC report showed that a total of 70,899 families or 301,979 people have been affected by the storm, and the government has set up temporary evacuation centers in the affected regions which currently hold almost 33,000 people.

In addition, a preliminary assessment indicated more than 1,300 houses have been damaged or destroyed. The initial costs to infrastructures such as roads, bridges, and schools but also agriculture has been estimated to be around PhP 1.16 billion ($27 million).

Emergency teams have responded to 47 incidents, including 14 floods, 12 landslides, 8 tornadoes, 6 sea mishaps, and 4 collapsed structures. A group of five fishermen from Pangasinan who were previously reported missing were rescued at sea on board of an unnamed vessel.

Mina moved through the country's northwest during the weekend while it continued to weaken. On Monday, forecasters said Mina had weakened to a tropical storm and moved out of the Philippine area of responsibility.

Last month, at least 75 people were killed when Typhoon Juaning tore through several parts of the Philippines, including central and northern Luzon. Nearly two dozen children were among those killed.

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