Most of fatalities in hard-hit Cebu province
The death toll from Typhoon “Tino” (Kalmaegi) was reported to have risen to at least 92 individuals, even if the official figure from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday afternoon stood at only 66 fatalities.
In its latest bulletin, the agency stated it was still in the process of validating the actual number of deaths amid the chaos and ruin ‘Tino’ left behind.
The typhoon caused widespread destruction in Central Visayas, with Cebu listed as the hardest-hit province.
At least 49 of the reported fatalities were from Cebu, with causes ranging from fallen debris and landslides to flooding, while some incidents remain under investigation.
Cebu provincial government spokesman Rhon Ramos said that 35 bodies had been recovered from the flooded areas of Liloan, a town that is part of Cebu City’s metro area.
The grim news brought the toll for Cebu to 92, according to the combined tally of the provincial and city government, which still has to be verified by the NDRRMC.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro convened a meeting with various public utility providers to coordinate the immediate reconnection of essential services—such as electricity, water, and internet—which had been affected in the wake of the recent powerful storm.
She emphasized that bringing power transmission and distribution services back is most crucial, as it is critical for both communication networks and water systems to operate fully.
Most deaths were caused by drowning due to massive flooding and landslides.
Meanwhile, one fatality each was also recorded in Bohol, Capiz, and Leyte, all attributed to falling trees.
Another death in Leyte was reported due to flooding, the NDRRMC further reported.
Six of the deaths in Agusan del Sur were from the Air Force UH-1 “Huey” helicopter that crashed there Tuesday afternoon.
The typhoon displaced over 102,000 people, equivalent to 32,603 families across the province.
Baricuatro on Tuesday signed Executive Order No. 68, placing the entire province under a state of calamity due to the effects of ‘Tino.’
As of this writing, authorities in the province reported that the internet was 50 percent restored while water was at 40 percent operational capacity.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported its transmission lines were back at 45 percent as of 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
As this developed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continued to deliver relief assistance to affected communities across the Visayas and Mindanao.
In an interview, Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) stated that the value of the Department’s total humanitarian assistance has surpassed P69.45 million.
“You know, the DSWD is really preparing for all calamities because we know that we are highly vulnerable to various hazards. [Because of this], we are implementing the Buong Bansa Handa (BBH) program where we have created two parallel supply chains for the government sector-driven [relief efforts], and the second one is the private sector-driven,” she said in Filipino.
Through strategically prepositioned relief items under the BBH program, the Department has distributed over 123,000 family food packs (FFPs) to affected individuals, she added.
For his part, Speaker Faustino Dy III said that House members representing the affected areas are coordinating with concerned government agencies to provide immediate assistance to those displaced by the typhoon.
“The House as an institution is always ready to provide appropriate funds and support programs that will speed up rehabilitation, recovery of livelihoods, and restoration of damaged facilities… Your representatives will continue to act to ensure that you receive the help and protection necessary to start over,” he said.
Likewise, Senator Francis Escudero urged authorities to maintain stable prices of essential goods and prime commodities in areas devastated by Typhoon Tino.
He emphasized the need for strict enforcement of consumer protection laws to prevent price manipulation during emergencies.
“The damage to homes and businesses caused by severe flooding is immense. Our hope is for the affected communities to recover quickly,” Escudero said. —With Agence France Presse
