95 killed, 3.4 million affected by 'habagat' rains

MANILA, Philippines - At least 95 people have died while more than 3.4 million people have been affected in the Philippines by heavy rains and floods spawned by the southwest monsoon, or "habagat," the country's disaster management agency said Monday night.

Most of the deaths were caused by drowning, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) data showed.

Four people remain missing while 62,846 have been rescued, the NDRRMC said.

The total cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture has reached P2.26 billion, the agency said.

Forty-one cities and municipalities in Regions I, III, IV-A, IV-B, XII, and Metro Manila are now under the state of calamity.

Meanwhile, 64 cities and municipalities from in Metro Manila, Regions 3, and 4-A have flooding. A total of 8,629 houses have been damaged.

Central Luzon is experiencing the brunt of the monsoon rains, which have affected more 2 million people in the region.

A total of 78,946 people in Region 3 have sought temporary shelter in evacuation centers.

Heavy rains and floods also affected 366,669 people in Metro Manila, with 109,023 now housed in evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC said more than P94 million worth of relief assistance have been given to flood victims.

The agency published its latest data, even as a new tropical storm, "Helen," could bring more misery to the flood-battered capital and surrounding provinces.