Typhoon Koppu death toll rises to 18 in Philippines

At least 18 people were killed, 16 others injured and one missing as Typhoon Koppu, locally named Lando, battered northern Philippines for the third day, the National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday evening.

NDRRMC executive director Alexander Pama said, causes of death included fallen trees, electrocution, collapsed wall, drowning and landslides.

As of 6 p.m. local time, NDRRMC said a total of 560,570 persons were affected in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Cordillera Administrative Region and National Capital Region, with 88 road sections and 25 bridges remains impassable.

As Koppu weakens further, storm warnings were still raised in 17 provinces with 107,719 persons remained sheltered in evacuation centers.

Powerful winds and heavy rain caused power interruptions in nine cities and 68 municipalities in Luzon and damaged 4,919 houses nationwide. Bad weather also led to the cancellation of 78 flights, with more than 1,000 passengers and 59 rolling cargoes stranded.

According to Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Emerson Palad, Philippine agriculture sector has suffered at least 128.01 million U.S. dollars damage due to Koppu.

"Through partial field validation, the DA estimates that the regions have already incurred a production loss of 386,000 metric tons," he said.

As local media reported, state of calamity was declared in several towns, cities in Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Isabela provinces.

Due to bad weather, classes and government work remains suspended in most of northern Philippines. Endit