Eleven more persons were reported to have died due to typhoon “Odette” which raised the tally to 378, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday, Dec. 26.
The NDRRMC said 10 persons who were previously reported missing turned out to be among those who perished due to the typhoon. These were all reported in Southern Leyte which now has a total of 12 deaths.
Meanwhile in Agusan del Norte, local DRRM officials reported one new fatality.
Aside from this, 60 persons were still missing while 742 others sustained various injuries due to Odette.
Most of the casualties were reported in Bohol with 94 deaths, Negros Oriental with 66, and Cebu with 58.
The lack of potable drinking water in Caraga (Region 13) also resulted in a reported outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in at least four municipalities in the region.
Several residents have reportedly suffered from AGE in the towns of Cagdianao, San Jose, and Tubajon in Dinagat Islands; and in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte.
“We received reported two deaths in Surigao del Norte but these are subject for validation. We are currently coordinating with the region and the assessment of the DOH is ongoing,” the NDRRMC information office said.
Other than the two fatalities, there were also several dozens who were admitted in hospitals due to AGE, the NDRRMC said.
Further, relief operations were still on-going in the most affected areas, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
A total of 2.376 million pounds of relief goods were already delivered to affected provinces in Visayas and Mindanao through the use of 15 air assets and 13 naval vessels by the military, said Col. Jerry Baclor, chief of AFP public affairs office.
The AFP has also provided transportation assistance to 394 locally stranded individuals (LSIs).
“Let us not forget to include our loved ones and the survivors of the typhoon in our prayers. Of course, let us also remember our comrades who are keeping watch right now across the country,” said Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, AFP Chief of Staff.