NDRRMC tallies 156 Odette-related deaths
By Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo
THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, that 156 people were reported dead due to the onslaught of Typhoon Odette (Rai).
Of the reported fatalities, nine were verified (one each in Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, and two deaths each in Guimaras and Bohol).
The agency said 37 people have remained missing, while 275 sustained injuries.
In a separate report, the Philippine National Police (PNP), however, tallied 375 fatalities due to Odette as of midnight of December 21.
The PNP said 56 people were still missing, while 515 were injured.
NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said they are currently coordinating with the PNP for verification of the fatalities.
Timbal said the areas greatly affected by the typhoon were Mimaropa, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga and some parts of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
Government agencies, particularly the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Coast Guard, mobilized all of their resources for rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations in areas affected by Odette.
Affected families were in need of food and water supplies, hygiene kits and repair kits, as their houses were either washed out or damaged by the typhoon.
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said over P18.2 million worth of food and non-food relief items have been distributed to the affected population.
“Dahil nga sa naging damage ni Typhoon Odette, meron din tayong kinakaharap na mga challenges sa pagpapahatid ng mga relief items natin,” she said in a radio interview.
(We have difficulty in delivering the relief items because of the damage caused by Typhoon Odette.)
“Gayundin sa pagkalap ng mga karagdagang impormasyon. ‘Yung mga reports ay nahihirapan din tayong mag-generate dahil nga naapektuhan ‘yung linya ng komunikasyon, transportasyon, and of course ‘yung source ng ating kuryente,” she added.
(We also found it hard to gather information because of poor communication, limited transportation, and electricity.)
Communication, power and water supply lines are yet to be restored in majority of the affected areas.
In a radio interview, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said 12 towers and 600 steel poles mostly in Cebu, Bohol and Leyte were toppled by the typhoon.
“Sa Cebu, Leyte, tsaka Bohol, medyo matatagalan ‘yan at wala pa kaming maiibigay na restoration schedule,” she said.
(The restoration might take time in Cebu, Leyte and Bohol. We cannot give yet a restoration schedule.)
Abalanza said they aim to restore transmission services in Negros by Wednesday, December 22.
She said Surigao del Norte, including Siargao, and Surigao del Sur are the only areas without transmission services but power lines may be restored on or before December 25, 2021.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who visited typhoon-stricken areas, earlier directed concerned government agencies to ensure immediate rehabilitation efforts in order to restore normalcy in the affected areas. (SunStar Philippines)
