An aerial photo shows devastated homes and rice and corn fields inundated by floods from a swollen river after heavy rains during Super Typhoon Mangkhut in Alcala, Cagayan province on September 16, 2018. Photo: AFP/ Ted Aljibe
An aerial photo shows devastated homes and rice and corn fields inundated by floods from a swollen river after heavy rains during Super Typhoon Mangkhut in Alcala, Cagayan province on September 16, 2018. Photo: AFP/ Ted Aljibe

There could be a substantial economic impact from the two typhoons that swept across the north of the Philippines over the past two months.

The UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs said on Monday that initial reports indicate that rice and high-value crops were affected by both Typhoon Yutu (known locally as Rosita) and Typhoon Mangkhut.

Mangkhut swept across the main northern island of Luzon in mid-September, while Yutu (Rosita) left the Philippine archipelago on October 31.

UNOCHA said the estimated volume of production losses of rice and other crops was more than 7,000 metric tons.

Meanwhile, more than 65,000 families – a quarter of a million people – in over 1,300 barangays (villages) were affected by the two typhoons.

Over 7,900 homes were damaged, the UN agency said.