THE death toll from super typhoon “Karding” rose to eight yesterday, as Nueva Ecija and Concepcion town in Tarlac were placed under a state of calamity due to the extent of damage in the areas.
Karding exited the Philippine area of responsibility at around 8 p.m. Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In an advisory issued at 4 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA said Karding was some 1,005 km west of Northern Luzon as of 3 p.m. yesterday.
The deaths reported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) included the five Bulacan rescue workers who drowned in San Miguel town early morning Monday.
The five perished after their boat was hit by a fallen wall, and subsequently swept by floodwaters, while rescuing residents of Barangay Camias from flooding.
NDRRMC spokesman Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said an additional fatality was reported in Bulacan. He did not provide details, but the Central Luzon regional police office said the victim, Hadjie Escalona, 29, of Baliwag town in Bulacan, died of drowning.
Police said Escalona stayed in his house near a river in Barangay Poblacion in Baliwag despite advisory from local officials to evacuate due to flooding. His body was found at an adjacent house on Monday morning.
Alejandro said the two other fatalities were from Zambales and Quezon.
The NDRRMC initially reported two deaths in Zambales, but Alejandro said verification showed only one death in the province. It also did not give details of the incident.
Police said the fatality, Roberto Garia, 62, died of drowning in Cabangan town, Zambales. He was swept by flash flood in Barangay Cadmang early morning Monday while attending to his livestock.
The NDRRMC said the fatality from Quezon died of landslide in Bordeus town. Local officials said the victim’s house was buried by landslide last Sunday.
The NDRRMC said three fishermen from Mercedes town in Camarines Norte were reported missing.
Meanwhile, the provincial council of Nueva Ecija has placed the province under a state of calamity through a resolution adopted on Monday, because of the damage and destruction from Karding.
The Office of Civil Defense-Central Luzon said the council of Concepcion, Tarlac has also declared the town under a state of calamity on Monday due to damage from Karding.
Alejandro said damage from Karding remains minimal based on reports that have so far reached the Camp Aguinaldo-based council.
He said the cost of damage to agriculture was so far placed at P160 million.
He said only Palawan has submitted an estimate on the cost of damage to infrastructure — P3 million.
Alejandro said the cost of damage to both agriculture and infrastructure is expected to increase in the coming days when the provinces of Quezon, Aurora and Nueva Ecija and other areas affected will be able to complete their report.
“It’s minimal because (reports) are not yet complete, that’s the context… We’re expecting the figures to increase, hopefully it (report) can be completed soon,” he said.
The NDRRMC said 16,476 families or 60,817 persons have been affected by Karding in six regions — Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Cordillera Administrative Region.
Of the number, 12,352 families or 46,008 persons were displaced, the NDRRMC said.
Officials said many of the evacuees have returned to their homes since Monday when the weather condition improved.
