MANILA – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has recorded 13 casualties from the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
Eleven of the deaths were logged in Bicol, one in Central Visayas, and one in Calabarzon.
The NDRRMC, however, said that only the fatality from Calabarzon has been confirmed so far while they are still verifying the 12 reported other casualties.
Also being confirmed are reports of seven missing persons – five in Bicol, one in Calabarzon, and one in the Ilocos region – as well as five injured persons – four in Bicol and one in the Bangsamoro Administrative Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
A total of 569,524 families or 2,656,466 persons residing in 3,483 barangays in 15 regions were affected by the storm and 1,402 houses were reported damaged in 11 regions.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Friday that he has ordered the full mobilization of military assets for relief operations for the victims of the storm.
“Today, we will continue sending our help and aid. I make this pledge to our people: Help is on the way. It will come by land, air, and, even by sea,” Marcos said during a briefing at the Malacañang Palace.
He added: “I have ordered the full mobilization of available AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) personnel and resources which can be committed to relief operations.”
Marcos also said that other uniformed agencies such as the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Coast Guard are likewise placed under that status.
The Chief Executive also ordered the deployment of vehicles, aircraft, boats, ships and all other transportation assets for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.
“This means putting people out of harm’s way, those whose lives are in danger, and then paving the way for the rapid movement of relief resources to affected areas,” Marcos said. “I want to see a conveyor belt of aid that is constantly delivering aid to the front.”/PN
