AT least eight people died and 15 others were reported missing, as Tropical storm 'Dante' (international name: Choi-wan) battered the country this week, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

The NDRRMC said Dante's 8th landfall was at Calatagan, Batangas on Wednesday night.

The NDRRMC said, in its situational report, that one fatality was from Norala, South Cotabato.

A 55-year-old man was initially reported missing but the NDRRMC said his body was retrieved on Wednesday night.

In San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, the regional Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said in another report that a 19-year-old male died after he was struck by lightning. The office said, however, that the case is '[s]till for verification and validation if [it is] typhoon-related incident.'

Another death was recorded in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, where a 28-year-old man was also struck by lightning. He was declared dead on arrival but authorities are verifying whether his death was connected to the weather disturbance.

Officials in Leyte, meanwhile, confirmed two fatalities in their province--a 51-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy.

The first three fatalities were recorded in the regions of Davao with two and Soccsksargen, one.

The OCD in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) also reported eight missing persons with five coming from Alcantara, Romblon; two from San Fernando, Romblon; and one from Cajidiocan, Romblon.

The NDRRMC, meanwhile, has not yet included in its missing tally the eight from Mimaropa. They were only able to report on the four missing persons from Pilar, Capiz; two in Calubian, Leyte; and one from Maco, Davao de Oro.

Overall, authorities recorded 15 missing persons due to heavy effects brought by the tropical storm 'Dante.' Injured persons remained at two.

A total of 9,831 families made up of 45,456 persons were affected in the regions of Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga and according to the NDRRMC, of the said figures, 3,090 families or 12,071 individuals are in temporary shelters.

Damage to agriculture in Soccsksargen and Caraga has hit P14.6 million, affecting 442 farmers and 723 hectares, as well as a volume production loss of 220 metric tons .

Affected products include rice and corn, the NDRRMC added.

Twenty six barangay or villages in Northern Samar, meanwhile, are experiencing mobile network interruptions while Jipapad, Eastern Samar experienced the same.