BUTUAN CITY, Philippines (Bernama-PNA): Tropical storm Basyang, which has weakened into a low-pressure area, battered the Caraga region in southern Philippines, killing three people and forcing thousands of families to flee their homes, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.
In its 4 am report on Saturday, OCD-13 said the fatalities were recorded in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte.
The agency said nearly 111,000 families (over 390,000 individuals) in 525 villages were affected by Basyang, with more than 20,830 people displaced, and 6,109 temporarily housed in 50 designated evacuation centres, while some 14,721 people opted to stay outside the centres
Hundreds of houses were reported damaged across the region, although authorities have yet to determine the extent of damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
Relief operations by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-13), with support from local government units, began on Thursday, with assistance already distributed to affected families.
In a statement on Saturday, DSWD-13 said it continues to deliver food assistance to families affected by Basyang, adding that relief efforts will continue throughout the weekend.
Meanwhile, Basyang has weakened into a low-pressure area and was last located southeast of Palawan, with no tropical cyclone wind signal currently in effect.
-- BERNAMA-PNA
