Crising, habagat death toll climbs to 6; Bagyong Dante forms east of Luzon

Adi Joaquim Tolentino

The death toll from Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the intensified southwest monsoon or habagat has reached six, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on July 22.

Photo Courtesy of ABS-CBN/DOST-PAGASA.

Two of the six deaths have been confirmed, one each from Northern Mindanao and the Caraga Region, while four others remain under verification, including fatalities from Mimaropa, Davao Region, and two more from Northern Mindanao.

In total, over 1.26 million individuals from 362,465 families in 2,088 barangays across 17 regions have been affected by flooding, landslides, and evacuations.

As of the latest data, 17,116 evacuees are staying in 277 evacuation centers, while 65,219 people are receiving aid outside of shelters.

The NDRRMC also recorded 348 totally damaged houses and 1,153 partially damaged, with agricultural losses pegged at Php 54 million, most of it in Mimaropa, and infrastructure damage reaching Php 413 million, mainly in Ilocos Region and Western Visayas.

While recovery efforts continue, PAGASA confirmed that a low-pressure area (LPA) east of Northern Luzon has intensified into Tropical Depression Dante as of 3:00 PM today.

The center of Dante was last spotted 1,120 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, carrying maximum winds of 45 km/h and gusts up to 55 km/h, moving north-northwest at 20 km/h.

In addition to Dante, three other LPAs are being closely monitored, while habagat remains active and is expected to bring more rain over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and parts of Northern and Western Luzon.

PAGASA warned that the persistent rains may lead to flash floods and landslides, especially in low-lying and mountainous areas.