NDRRMC: ‘Odette’ claims 156 lives
THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, around 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 Dec. 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 to verify 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 were distributed to the affected population.
“We have difficulty in delivering the relief items because of the damage caused by Typhoon Odette,” she said in Tagalog.
“We also found it hard to gather information because of poor communication, limited transportation, and electricity,” she added.
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.
“The restoration might take time in Cebu, Leyte and Bohol. We cannot give yet a restoration schedule,” he said in Tagalog.
Abalanza said they aim to restore transmission services in Negros by Wednesday, Dec. 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 Dec. 25.
In Cebu City, 201 people were reported injured while four were reported missing in Barangay Lahug due to the typhoon.
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the deaths were in the following barangays: Apas (3), Tisa (3), Basak Pardo (2), and one each in Buhisan, Kamputhaw, Lusaran, Lahug, Pit-os, San Roque, San Nicolas Proper, T. Padilla, and Tejero.
While those injured came mostly from Basak Pardo (150), followed by Lorega San Miguel (15), San Nicolas Proper (10), Busay (7), Kamputhaw (5), Bulacao (3), Suba (3), Pahina Central (3), Apas (2), Mabolo (1), Pulangbato (1), and Tejero (1).
Mayor Michael Rama said the families of those who died will receive P15,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Services. (PAC)
