The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) announced that 12 people were killed and seven were missing in the ravages of typhoon “Odette,” based on preliminary reports they received.
In a briefing attended by President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said 84,674 families or 338,664 people were evacuated and taken to safe areas in Mimaropa, Regions 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and Caraga.
Based on preliminary reports, Jalad said six people were killed in Region 6 due to drowning and falling trees.
Seven others are missing.
Four people were reported killed in Region 7. There were also power outages in Bohol, Cebu, and Negros Oriental.
Jalad added that there was one casualty in Region 8 and one in Region 10.
The information that someone died on Siargao Island is being verified.
“Based on information from the governor of Surigao del Norte, there are two deaths reported in the island of Surigao, but that is also being validated as of now,” said Jalad.
They have not yet received any information about the landslide incident.
12 dead, 7 missing due to typhoon ‘Odette’ —NDRRMC
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“There were no reported landslides which in the past typhoons are big contributors of casualties, but hopefully in the next few days in the conduct of the assessment of our LGUs (local government units) and regional government agencies involved, there will be no more casualties reported,” the official said.
Jalad also said the airport terminal in Siargao was damaged, and the runway could not be used.
Duterte, on the other hand, announced that he would visit the areas devastated by the typhoon and see the damage left by the disaster.
Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) continued to move over the West Philippine Sea on Sunday. As a result, the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 previously raised over Kalayaan Islands has been lifted, PAGASA said.
“‘ODETTE’ is unlikely to directly affect the weather condition and bring heavy rainfall in the country throughout the forecast period,” PAGASA said.
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