Death toll of Philippine monsoon rains climbs to 16

MANILA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of torrential rains brought by the southwest monsoon in Metro Manila and other nine provinces rose to 16 by Wednesday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Counci (NDRRMC).

Of the fatalities, 10 came from the national capital region, four from Pampanga province and two others from Batangas province. They died of landslide, drowning and electrocution, NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

As of 3 p.m., the number of population affected by the heavy rains totaled 265,630 families with 1.2 million persons from 1,139 villages in Metro Manila, Ilocos region, Central Luzon and Western Visayas, Ramos said. Of the number, 31,403 families with 149,170 persons are in 296 evacuation centers.

In a briefing presided over by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III at the NDRRMC office, Police Community Relations Group head Director Lina Sarmiento said that the situation in CAMANAVA, part of the sub-region of Metro Manila, "is still very bad." Rubber boats were sent to the area to ferry relief goods to the affected residents.

Many areas in Metro Manila and in Central Luzon, Ilocos region are still not passable to vehicles due to flooding.