Manila, Aug. 20 -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday said the number of people affected by the combined effects of tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the ongoing southwest monsoon (habagat) has climbed to nearly 6.52 million individuals, with the reported death toll rising to 29.

In a message to reporters, OCD public information officer Diego Mariano said the persons affected by the adverse weather is equivalent to about 1.82 million families residing in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordillera and the National Capital Region.

Some 628 evacuation centers are now sheltering around 13,957 families, equivalent to 47,277...