emi

The death toll from Tropical Storm Washi has reached 632, according to the latest situation report (12 p.m., 19 Dec. 2011) of the Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Sixteen (16) persons were reported injured, while 82 others remain missing. A total of 142,961 individuals across 13 provinces in the central and southern Philippines have been affected by the storm.

Washi made landfall in southeast Philippines last 16 Dec. 2011, packing winds ranging from 55 to 65 kph, with gusts up to 80 kph, and travelled westward at speeds of 24-30 kph. Within the span of several hours, it dumped the equivalent of one month's rainfall (181mm) on several areas in the island of Mindanao, triggering landslides and massive flooding across towns and cities that rarely experience severe weather events. The extreme nature of the storm caught local officials and residents unprepared, although the NDRRMC had provided advance warning of the storm.

More information on Tropical Storm Washi and its impact on the Philippines are available on the NDRRMC website: http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/