MANILA, Philippines – Over 1.8 million people or 384,436 families were affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in Bicol, one of the hardest hit regions in the country, as of Friday morning, October 25.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 161,908 individuals are in evacuation centers, while 40,668 have sought refuge elsewhere.
The storm has claimed at least 11 lives, injured four, and left five people missing.
A total of 956 houses were damaged, while 19 local government units have declared a state of calamity, including the provincial governments of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Sorsogon. In Naga City, 30% of the land area was flooded, according to Mayor Nelson Legacion.
Disaster response
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, calling in from Naga City, reported to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and fellow Cabinet secretaries who were meeting in Malacañang that there is sufficient relief supplies for the region, but transporting them remains a challenge. Oil supply has also been a problem, according to Gatchalian.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said that the Office of Civil Defense is exploring routes through the Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon province and across the Ragay Gulf to Pasacao town in Camarines Sur to facilitate the transport of fuel tankers and other essential supplies to Bicol.
The national government has deployed additional personnel and equipment from Southern Luzon Command and Eastern Visayas to assist Bicol.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that a C-130 plane left Manila for Bicol before 7 am on Friday to bring satellite communications, generator sets, and water filtration units, as well as personnel. Black Hawk helicopters are also in Legazpi and are trying to enter Naga, said the President.
“We have a weather window of about two days for air operations in Bicol. And we will try to take full advantage of all that,” he said at the Palace meeting on the aftermath of Kristine and ongoing disaster relief and response operations.
The military has also deployed 20 search and rescue operators, two inflatable rescue boats, and 40 rescue boats from the 525th ECB Philippine Army.
Transportation, power
The typhoon disrupted Bicol’s transportation network, affecting 266 roads and 27 bridge sections, with 62% inaccessible to all vehicles. The NDRRMC also reported 15 landslides across the region.
Maritime travel has also been affected, leaving 3,804 passengers, 796 rolling cargoes, and four vessels stranded at 21 seaports.
As of 8 am on Friday, 44 localities remain without electricity, and nine are without water supply. The NDRRMC estimated damage to agriculture at ₱9.7 billion, impacting 234 farmers and fisherfolk. Communication lines were also affected in at least two localities.
Due to high the call volumes and internet connectivity issues, emergency lines in the region are experiencing downtime.
Assistance, donation drives
Several local governments outside the region such as Makati City and Manila City, as well as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), have sent teams to help in the search, rescue, and relief operations in Bicol.
Several private groups have also mobilized to bring boats and relief goods in the region, including former vice president Leni Robredo’s Angat Buhay Foundation.
In the municipality of Bula, Camarines Sur, for example, there are reports that stranded people had to pay private boat owners to get evacuated, as their local government was swamped with numerous rescue requests but lacked the resources.
On social media, there has been a growing call for donations to support those affected by the storm.
– Rappler.com