Typhoon Odette has killed at least one person and displaced 198,000 people as it ravaged Visayas, Mindanao, and parts of Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Philippine National Police (PNP) disclosed Friday, Dec. 17.
Initial reports from NDRRMC and PNP showed that the fatality was recorded in Northern Mindanao although no other details were available as of posting time.
Aside from that, three persons were also injured in Northern Mindanao while another person who was earlier reported to be among those killed was delisted and classified as “missing” in Western Visayas.
The PNP also disclosed that 50,219 families or 198,417 individuals have been evacuated in Mimaropa (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), and Caraga (Region 13).
Police disaster response units also rescued 16 persons in Eastern Visayas and 23 others in Northern Mindanao during 33 separate operations along the track of typhoon Odette.
“The PNP has fielded 3,649 police disaster response personnel to affected areas and made available a 7,335-strong standby support force for rapid deployment in case of further contingency,” said PNP Chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos.
“Their mission is to assist DSWD, local DRRMC, and local government units in maintaining order and security in 7,719 evacuation centers housing 37,665 evacuated families composed of 119,954 individuals in affected areas in Bicol region; Western, Central and Eastern Visayas; Western and Northern Mindanao; and Caraga region,” he added.
Meanwhile, the PNP Command Center (PCC) reported that 2,910 passengers and 1,551 vehicles are stranded in different seaports in Regions 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 13 after 112 interisland vessels were grounded.
The PCC also reported power outages in 83 areas in Regions 8, 9, and 10; and disruption in mobile cellular telecommunication service in 369 areas in Regions 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13.
Carlos said all other areas along the track of the typhoon in Central and Western Visayas as well as Mimaropa have been alerted to preposition disaster response personnel, resources, and equipment within close but safe proximity to thriving communities in perennial hazard-prone areas.
Local PNP units were also instructed by Carlos to assist the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units (LGUs) in road clearing operations to ensure unhampered passage of emergency response vehicles, and relief and supply convoys.