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Philippines: Floods and Landslides - Jan 2017

Status
Past
Countries
Philippines
Disaster types
Flood

As of 20 January, over 63,000 people remain displaced due to flash floods in northern Mindanao and the Visayas from 16 January, with an estimated 48,000 people inside 115 evacuation centres. (OCHA, 23 Jan 2017)

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the combined effects of the rains that have lashed starting mid-January resulted in at least nine deaths, injured 10 people, damaged homes and swept away livelihoods, mainly in CARAGA, Davao and Northern Mindanao regions. More than 320,000 households (1.5 million people) have been affected, with at least 1,300 houses damaged. The authorities pre-emptively evacuated over 17,000 households (85,000 people), with 53,200 people still remaining in evacuation centres or staying with host families. Parts of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao provinces have been declared under the state of calamity. Initial estimates indicated that the cost of damage caused to agriculture alone is more than PHP 126 million (CHF 2.5 million). (IFRC, 3 Feb 2017)

In January 2017, a total of 77,704 families (approximately 387,138 persons) were displaced in Mindanao due to several days of massive flooding caused by heavy and continuous rain. Most of the displaced -- 328,111 persons -- were able to return to their homes as of mid-February. (Protection Cluster, 15 Feb 2017)

As of 19 February, over 30,700 people remained displaced in northeastern Mindanao (Caraga region) by flooding triggered by a series of weather systems since 8 January. At least 2,100 people are in 18 shelters, while most are staying with relatives and friends. Local authorities and NGOs, with support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are providing food and other relief items. (OCHA, 20 Feb 2017)

As of 25 February, more than 30,000 people remain displaced by flooding in northeastern Mindanao, with most staying with relatives or friends. Surigao del Norte, which was also affected by the 10 February earthquake, still has 1,150 people displaced by flooding that are staying in evacuation centres. Local disaster management authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide assistance to those displaced. (OCHA, 27 Feb 2017)

Flooding in low-lying areas in Mindanao is a yearly occurrence, particularly during monsoon season. But from January to February this year, the effects of a low pressure area and the tail-end of a cold front brought unusually heavy rain and flooding in different parts of Mindanao and Visayas. Over 280,000 people have been affected all over Mindanao. As of 2 March, over 29,000 people are still displaced in Caraga region. (OCHA, 2 March 2017)

As of 12 March, over 11,000 people in Lamitan City (Basilan province) and Tambulig municipality (Zamboanga del Sur province) are displaced by flooding. Two deaths in the provinces of Misamis Occidental and Sarangani and one missing person in Maguindanao province were also reported. The floods damaged 127 houses, mostly in Lamitan City. Local disaster management authorities, with support from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team and the Philippine Red Cross, are providing relief items to those affected in Basilan. (OCHA, 13 March 2017)