At least 14 people were reported to have died as typhoon “Odette” pummeled Visayas and Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) disclosed Friday night, Dec. 17.
In a situational briefing with President Duterte around 6 p.m., NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said the fatalities were recorded in Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), and Caraga (Region 13).
“Hopefully in the next few days, in the conduct of more assessment of our local government units and regional government agencies involved, there will be no more casualties reported. We are doing our best, Mr. President, to collect the needed information,” Jalad said.
Jalad, however, clarified that some of the fatalities were still undergoing validation.
Dead
The most number of fatalities was recorded in Region 6 were six people died: three in Negros Occidental, two in Guimaras, and one in Iloilo City. Seven people were also reported missing in Negros Occidental.
Jalad said most of the victims died due to flooding and debris hit.
Meanwhile, four people died in Region 7: two each in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City but these are still subjected for validation. Jalad said there were deep flooding in Sugbo Mercado, Cebu while Loboc River also overflowed in Bohol.
In Regions 8 and 10, one death each was recorded in Southern Leyte and Bukidnon. Two persons were also injured in Bukidnon after they were hit by a fallen tree.
In Caraga, two persons perished in Surigao island, according to Jalad, which are still subject to validation.
The NDRRMC chief particularly mentioned the devastation in Siargao Island where Odette made its first landfall.
Citing reports from the provincial government of Surigao del Norte, Jalad said that Siargao “is heavily damaged.”
Jalad said he will personally fly to Siargao Island to bring very small aperture test (VSAT) radio to establish communication with the local government, and food supplies.
Meanwhile, a total of 84,674 families or 338,664 individuals were saved from the dangers of Odette after they were preemptively evacuated. They were from Mimaropa (Region 4B), Regions 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and Caraga.
Power interruption and communication / signal interruption were also reported in the affected regions.
Jalad said they have already started the damage assessment to determine the extent of Odette’s agriculture and infrastructure devastation.
“Much of the supplies of the Department of Social Welfare and Development are already prepositioned in the different regions. The deployment of those supplies will be coming from their regional hubs,” he noted.