The death toll in the two cyclones that hit the country recently – “Ondoy” (international codename Ketsana) and “Pepeng” (international codename Parma) – has breached the 700 mark.

Latest reports released by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) showed the number of validated deaths from typhoon Pepeng is now 375, mostly from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Based on the NDCC report, 287 deaths were recorded in CAR, which includes Benguet, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Abra and Baguio City.

The NDCC also said there were 75 validated deaths in Region I, with 21 in Pangasinan, 51 in la Union, two in Ilocos Norte and one in Ilocos Sur; eight deaths in Region III, with three in Nueva Ecija, three in Pampanga, and two in Tarlac; one in Region IV-A; and four in Region V, with three in Camarines Sur and one in Naga City.

Most of the recorded deaths particularly in CAR, were largely due to landslides while the others were due to drowning.

The NDCC earlier said the death toll from Ondoy, which also caused massive devastation particularly in Metro Manila and in many parts of Rizal and Laguna, at 337. This brings to 712 the total number of confirmed deaths from the two cyclones.

Also, the NDCC sadi the number of those injured from Pepeng was 185, while 48 remained missing, broken down as 37 in Benguet, three in La Union, five in Pangasinan, one in Cagayan, one in Nueva Ecija and one in Pampanga.

A total of 36,349 houses were also damaged by Pepeng, with 3,677 totally and 32,672 partially destroyed.

Latest estimates on the damage to property caused by Pepeng was placed at P8.142 billion, including P1.607 billion in infrastructures and P6.532 billion in agriculture. From Ondoy, estimated damage to infrastructure and agriculture was P10.45 billion.

The NDCC further said Pepeng had affected the lives of at least 675,681 families or 3,136,482 people in 4,472 villages in 356 towns and 35 cities in 27 provinces. Of these, 17,506 families or 83,482 people are currently staying in 179 evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, the NDCC also announced that effective October 13, the Department of Public Works and Highways advised that all major roads to and from Baguio City are now open to traffic.

It said Marcos Highway is now open to all types of vehicles, while Kennon and Naguillan Roads are open to light vehicles only. However, the public was advised to take necessary precautions and obey traffic rules at all times to avoid any untoward incidents.

Heavy traffic is also expected due to ongoing restoration and clearing works along these road lines.