As Tropical Storm Kristine’s powerful rains and winds subsided on Friday, disaster officials confirmed an increase in fatalities and extensive damage across affected regions. The death toll rose to 46, with Bicol suffering the most, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). Of those killed, 28 were in Bicol, 15 in Calabarzon, with additional fatalities in Ilocos, Central Luzon, and Zamboanga Peninsula. Many deaths resulted from drowning in widespread floods or being buried in landslides, Inquirer.net reported.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recorded a different count, confirming 13 fatalities and noting over 2.6 million people affected, with thousands displaced across 15 regions. Several provinces and cities, including parts of Cavite, Albay, and Quezon City, declared a state of calamity as relief efforts faced challenges due to damaged roads and fallen trees.
Meteorologists from PAGASA warned that while Kristine is moving westward, it may “loop” back due to interactions with Tropical Cyclone Leon, expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility soon. This “Fujiwhara Effect” could potentially merge or pull the two storms together, but PAGASA forecasts that Kristine will weaken by early November.
Senators, including Joel Villanueva, called for an audit of the flood control projects in Bicol after extensive regional flooding, urging that the upcoming 2025 budget prioritize both accountability and disaster preparedness to avoid similar calamities in the future.
