13 dead, 42 injured during Lenten break in Philippines

At least 13 people died and 42 others were injured during the annual observance of Lenten break in the Philippines, a state disaster agency said Sunday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the casualties came from 19 incidents that it monitored in five regions in the country.

Those who perished were due to drowning, while those injured were either due to vehicular accidents or fire.

NDRRMC said it has been monitoring the situation in the Philippines, a predominant Catholic country, during its yearly observance of the Holy Week because this brings forth a volume of travelling population to the provinces and places of worship.

"The expected high density movement of travelling public increases the vulnerability of people to several human-induced hazards," it said. Endit