QUEZON CITY – The death toll from Typhoon Crising and habagat rose to 30 from 12 as two other typhoons (Dante and Emong) and weather disturbances battered Metro Manila, nearby provinces and big part of Northern Luzon.

This as some 5.2 million people were affected as typhoon Crising (international name Wipha), Dante and Emong and the enhanced southwest monsoon drenched most parts of the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported. (See related stories)

Classes and government offices were suspended in the affected areas, especially in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Pampanga which experienced heavy rains. 

Many bank branches and other business offices in the affected areas were also closed as over 170,000 homes in Metro Manila and nearby areas lost power.

The death toll rose to 30, according to NDRRMC as of Saturday, July 26. 

For the past week, tropical cyclones Crising, Dante and Emong have affected the country with strong winds and rains. While all three cyclones are out of the Philippine area of responsibility, the southwest monsoon rains still prevail across the nation. 

The National Capital Region had the highest death toll so far, with nine people reported dead. It is followed by Western Visayas, which recorded six deaths and Calabarzon with four deaths. 

At least 10 other people were injured, while seven people remain missing, according to the NDRRMC.

The weather systems have affected a whopping 5.2 million people across 17 regions, displacing 310,000 persons. The displaced persons are residing in 1,783 evacuation centers across the country. 

At least 1,401 areas were flooded, according to the NDRRMC, with 154 localities declaring a state of calamity. 

Damage to infrastructure has totaled a whopping P5 billion, with 368 structures affected.

The foul weather also damaged 3,569 houses, amounting to P3.2 million in losses.

Philippine Army (PA) units have joined efforts to bring assistance and relief to communities severely affected by the combined effects of Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the southwest monsoon (habagat).

The Philippine National Police (PNP) assisted about 276 individuals during its rescue operations amid the effects of the habagat and tropical cyclone Crising. 

PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said nearly 3,000 police personnel were deployed for disaster response operations, with an additional 7,000 on standby as part of the reactionary support force.

Torre added that police served around 35,000 individuals in evacuation centers.