By Catherine Cueto

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday that the number of reported deaths due to Super Typhoon Karding rose to eight, with three others missing.

According to the latest situation report of the NDRRMC, five deaths have been confirmed. They attributed it to the rescuers who died in Brgy. Camias, San Miguel, Bulacan, during their rescue mission in the flooded areas.

Three other reported deaths - two in Zambales and one in Brgy. Aluyon, Burdeos, Quezon are still being verified.

The incident in Quezon was reportedly due to a landslide.

There were also three reported missing from Camarines Sur.

The report also said that there is a total of 60,817 individuals or 16,476 families from 948 villages in 202 cities and municipalities covering 25 provinces from seven regions.

They are from the Ilocos Region, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

A total of 51,811 were listed as displaced persons, with the majority inside 976 evacuation centers.

The estimated infrastructure damage cost also increased to some P3,000,000 in Mimaropa.

While the Department of Agriculture reported estimated damage of P1,525117.78.

The number comes from 394.716 hectares of crops affecting 276 farmers and fisherfolks.

The NDRRMC also said 74 areas experienced flooding in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol. However, it added that the floods in two of these areas have already subsided.

A total of 16 bridges and 13 roads are not passable in Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, and Cordillera due to the impact of the typhoon. However, eight roads previously not passable are now passable.

Power outages were also experienced in 99 cities and municipalities. Of these, 28 areas already have their power supply back.

Meanwhile, some 65 ports have suspended operations, of which 27 have already resumed operations in Mimaropa and Bicol.

Three houses were reported damaged — two partially and one totally — in Ilocos and Cordillera.

The NDRRMC report also said that 753 classes and 742 work schedules were suspended due to the threat of Karding.

Meanwhile, Nueva Ecija and 32 cities and municipalities were declared under the State of Calamity.

The MDRRMC also said that a total of P1,625,862 worth of assistance had been provided to affected Cagayan, Central Luzon, Bicol, and Cordillera residents.  

Meanwhile, PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) said on Tuesday that they stopped disconnection of accounts in hardest hit areas. 

PLDT said they plan to suppress bills for areas with severe typhoon impacts while services are undergoing restoration.

Smart has also provided emergency load assistance to customers in badly hit communities, allowing them to connect with their families and loved ones.

Libreng Tawag (free calls), Libreng Charging (free charging), and Libreng WiFi (free WiFi) stations of PLDT and Smart will continue to operate in areas hit by #KardingPH to serve the communication needs of affected residents.