MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from torrential monsoon rains rose to 19 yesterday, with over 700,000 residents evacuated from flooded areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.
NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos, however, said only 16 deaths had been verified, including nine landslide victims in Quezon City.
One-month-old Jonica Castulo and her siblings Jonathan, 3; Joshua, 2; and their mother Jessica, 23, were killed in the landslide in Barangay Commonwealth last Tuesday.
The other victims were Cecilia, 49; Jayvee, 20; Jethro, 18; Jason, 14; and Jessie Lee Joy, 6, all surnamed Baylon.
Rescuers recovered survivors Lydia Lyn Simbulan, 40; Maria Leslyn Simbulan, 21; and Jesie Baylon Jr., 24, who were brought to East Avenue Medical Center for treatment.
The landslide buried the houses of the victims that were built near the foot of a hilly portion of the community along Bayanihan Street near Litex Road.
In Caloocan, Gilbert Rabara, 36, drowned due to the floods that submerged parts of the city.
Two fatalities were also reported in Central Luzon that included Darel Flores, 9, who was electrocuted in Pampanga, while Ariem Menes, 19, drowned in Zambales.
The NDRRMC said Marie Pansipane, 7, and her sister Ana Mae, drowned while crossing a river in Barangay Ulanggo in Tanauan, Batangas.
Four persons were injured, namely Jessie Baylon, 24, Kidskin Simbulan, 40, Leslyn Simbulan, 19, and Alex Simbulan, whose age has yet to be determined.
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