Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Philippines

Philippines - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 99/0103
Philippines - Floods
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
5 August 1999

General situation

1. On 5 August 1999, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Manila reports through the Office of the Resident Coordinator that heavy monsoon rains have been pouring down for a week. They have provoked lethal floods and landslides in the Philippines. Most severely affected is the Rizal Province. Other provinces, such as Pangasinan, Pampanga or Bulacan have also been inundated.

2. The NDCC indicates the following casualties and damages:

  • 59 people killed and at least 32 are injured
  • 264 houses have been totally destroyed and 2,114 damaged
  • 1,516,308 persons have been affected (312,008 families) and 51,840 have been evacuated
  • Estimated total losses caused by the rains: PHP 76,855 million (approx. USD 2 million), among which PHP 58,785 million (approx. USD 1.5 million) concern the agricultural sector
  • PHP 3,196,906 billion (approx. USD 83.5 million) are needed for relief activities

National Response

3. The President of the Republic of the Philippines has formed a body to investigate the worst accident in the disaster which is the landslide that occurred in the Cherry Hill neighborhood in Antipolo town, just outside Manila, where 24 people died and many are still missing.

4. The NDCC has conducted an assessment mission together with other NDCC member agencies to the Cherry Hill subdivision. Several Philippine organizations, as well as the Armed Forces have dispatched rescue personnel, helicopters, vehicles, including ambulances, cranes, boats and material (e.g. generators, etc.). Food and other relief items have also been provided. The Health Office of the Rizal province has sent food and medicines for distribution to different evacuation centers. Health advisories on how to avoid illnesses have also been dispatched.

5. The Philippines National Red Cross (PNRC) is assisting local authorities in the evacuation and in the distribution of initial relief goods. So far, over 8,860 families (or 41,000 persons) have received PNRC emergency supplies.

6. The Government of the Republic of Philippines has so far not asked for international assistance.

7. OCHA is closely monitoring the situation in cooperation with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Manila.

8. This situation report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone number: +41-22-917 12 34
In case of emergency: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers: Mrs. S. Metzner-Strack / Mr. R. Mueller / Ms. M. Kondo,
OCHA Disaster Response Branch, direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 917 31 31 / 917 19 97

Press to contact: Ms. E. Ponomareva, direct Tel. +41-22-917 23 36

Telex: 414242 OCHA CH
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: info@dha.unicc.org

Disclaimer

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.