The number of fatalities from Typhoon Odette keeps on rising as the Philippine National Police reported on Monday that the figures already reached 375 people, with 500 injured and 56 others still missing.
This, even as the head of the government’s disaster body mobilized agencies, especially the military, for the continuing response efforts in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The latest figures came from the 6 p.m. PNP command center consolidated report and released by PNP spokesman Roderick Augustus Balba.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) through its spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo reported that all 21 foreigners on the badly-battered Siargao Island were all safe and are still on the island. They include Americans, Swiss, French, Australians, a Danish, a Belgian, a Briton, a Singaporean and a Vietnamese.
The PNP, citing the 12 midnoon report on Monday of its command center, said 208 fatalities were recorded in Eastern, Central and Western Visayas; Northern Mindanao; CARAGA and Zamboanga peninsula. The report was shared by PNO spokesman Col. Roderick Augustus Balba. The PNP said in an earlier tally at least 239 people were also injured while 118 remained missing, days after the typhoon battered the Visayas and Mindanao.
Confirmed, validated: 58 deaths
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) headed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reported having received reports of 58 deaths, nine of which have been confirmed and validated.
Lorenzana, chairman of the NDRRMC, said Odette’s destruction was huge based on initial reports, with communities having been levelled to the ground with no food and power, as he described the situation on the ground.
The PNP, which has mobilized and deployed its personnel for disaster response and security operations, said the number of areas without power supply and communication signals has increased to 3,164 and 1,897 respectively.
“The first thing we are doing is address the food and water, and medical care of the injured. I have directed the AFP to deploy all available assets to bring relief goods to the stricken areas. I have also directed the AFP to deploy more troops if necessary,” Lorenzana said.
A C-130 plane of the Air Force flew relief assistance to Cebu for distribution to the affected areas in the Visayas and Northern Mindanao. The aid included gallons of water; sacks of rice; toiletries; used clothes; canned goods; bottled water and generator sets.
The Navy has repurposed the presidential ship BRP Ang Pangulo (ACS25) into a 10-bed floating hospital and will be utilized by those needing medical attention in typhoon-hit areas in Mindanao.
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