(UPDATE) Ondoy's death toll climbs to 246
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/29/2009 8:17 AM
MANILA - The government on Tuesday has confirmed a total of 246 people dead and nearly 40 people still missing following devastating floods and landslides in Luzon caused by tropical storm Ondoy.
As of 3 p.m., the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said it has accounted for 246 dead people with 101 of the fatalities coming from Metro Manila and 105 from Region IV-A.
The NDCC said 38 people remain missing and 5 people were injured due to flashfloods and landslides that hit several areas in Luzon on Saturday.
The number of those affected by the tropical storm’s onslaught on Saturday has climbed to 1.93 million.
The agency said 319,547 people were sheltered in 607 makeshift evacuation camps and schools around Metro Manila, Rizal and other areas in Luzon placed by the government under a state of national calamity.
Another 247,870 people are outside evacuation centers, mostly with relatives, the NDCC said.
The cost of damages to property and crops by Ondoy has also risen to P4.69 billion, the NDCC added.
In a press conference on Monday afternoon, NDCC chairman and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the Philippine government will send requests for international assistance thru the United Nation Resident Coordinator.
The government, television networks, movie stars and non-government groups have been going out and pleading for relief goods, cash and medicine for the thousands of affected families staying in cramped evacuation centers.
Classes in all school levels in Metro Manila, Laguna, Batangas and other areas remained suspended on Tuesday.
Teodoro said he and education officials will meet on Tuesday to decide if there is a need to extend class suspensions.
He said the NDCC is preparing for another possible storm to enter while floods in some parts of Rizal province have yet to recede.
Fair weather
The government's weather bureau PAGASA said the southern part of Luzon and western section of Visayas will experience mostly cloudy skies and rainshowers on Tuesday due to an enhanced southwest monsoon.
PAGASA weather bureau chief Prisco Nilo on Monday said that he expects fair weather in the next 2 to 3 days in Metro Manila.
"We don't expect prolonged strong rains in Metro Manila area," he added.
"What happened is that, the southwest monsoon is enhanced by Ondoy although it's far away already and so we're still experiencing some rains in Metro Manila and adjacent areas," Nilo said.
However, he said the weather situation could change significantly.
Nilo said the PAGASA has monitored two "cloud clusters" that may affect the Philippines in the coming weeks.
"These are only cloud clusters. They're not tropical depressions yet," he said.
as of 09/29/2009 10:14 PM
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