Ongoing severe weather since the start of the year has caused at least 17 fatalities and displaced 71,442 people in the Philippines.

Flood damage Misamis Occidental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines, January 2023. Photo: Province of Misamis Occidental

The country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reports that a combination of Low-Pressure Areas, the Northeast Monsoon and Shear Line storms have affected 523,991 people across several regions since the start of the year.

A total of 687 flood incidents and 31 landslides were reported in Cagayan Valley (Region II), Central Luzon (Region III), Calabarzon, Southwestern Tagalog Region (Mimaropa), Bicol Region (Region V), Western Visayas (Region VI), Central Visayas (Region VII), Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), Northern Mindanao (Region X), Davao Region (Region XI), Bangsamoro (BARMM).

As many as 115,562 people were affected in Central Luzon; 130,168 in Mimaropa and 80,082 in Davao Region.

At least 192 houses have been destroyed including 112 in Mimaropa. Across the country, there were 71,442 people staying in 123 evacuation centres.

Seventeen people have died, 2 are missing and 7 people have been injured. Fatalities were reported in Bico, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao and Davao.

Many of the affected areas are still recovering from the spate of severe weather in late December where at least 52 people died.