The number of reported human deaths due to Typhoon Odette continues to rise, reaching 367 as of Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Saturday. The latest death toll includes 41 fatalities, raising the previous 326 reported as of December 24.
In its latest report, the NDRRMC said only 44 of the fatalities have so far been confirmed, including those reported in Palawan, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Guimaras, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental. Drowning, falling trees and debris were leading causes of deaths, the anti-disaster agency said.
A total of 62 people remain missing, while 732 were reported injured due to the typhoon that blasted through Central Philippines and Mindanao.
In Southern Leyte, at least 27 people were killed and thousands more displaced as affected residents appealed for immediate help after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette on December 16.
In the information released by Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas, the fatalities in Southern Leyte were from the towns of Malitbog (5), Tomas Oppus (2), Macrohon (1), Maasin City (1), Saint Bernard (7), Liloan (3), Limasawa (1), Sogod (2), Padre Burgos (1), San Francisco (2), and San Ricardo (1). One also remained missing in Saint Bernard.
In Leyte, the lone fatality was from Inopacan.
As of Saturday morning, December 25, the number of evacuated individuals reached 59,119 in Southern Leyte, based on the consolidated partial situation report of the police regional command.
At least 256 passengers and 200 vehicles were stranded in various seaports in the two affected provinces while commercial flights have already resumed in the region.
Police personnel, along with other law enforcement agencies, also conducted 149 rescue operations, 207 clearing operations and 387 relief works.
According to the police regional command, 307 individuals were rescued by different police units following the powerful storm.
No looting incidents were also reported.
Power outages continued in Maasin City and 18 other towns in Southern Leyte while telecommunication services were slowly restored in some areas.
Odette impacted a total of 3,567,588 people or 918,877 families in 5,674 barangays across Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro.
A total of 596,599 were displaced by the typhoon, of which 319,043 persons or 74,145 were staying in 1,407 evacuation centers, while 277,556 individuals or 77,552 families were staying in the houses of their relatives and friends.
At least 371,188 houses were damaged (127,885 totally and 243,303 partially), with cost of destruction estimated at P29,209,218.
The NDRRMC also estimated P3,999,252,642.04 in damage to infrastructure, and P2,090,445,262.13 in losses to agriculture.
Meanwhile, power has been restored to 150 of 269 cities and municipalities that experienced power outages and interruption due to
the typhoon.
Four cities or municipalities experienced water supply interruption, of which one city has its water supply restored.
The NDRRMC said 371 areas in Mimaropa, Region 7, Region 8, Region 9, Region 10, Caraga, BARRM are still experiencing communication problems, but 114 areas have already been restored.
All five airports in the affected areas are now operational. Of the 25 suspended domestic flights, eight have already resumed.
A total of 126 seaports had been non-operational due to the typhoon, of which 72 are already functioning. At least 1,353 passengers, 697 rolling cargoes, and four vessels were stranded.
At least 370 classes and 305 work schedules were suspended.
A total of 343 cities and municipalities were placed under state of calamity due to the impact of Odette, according to the NDRRMC.
The Department of Energy on Saturday assured the public that power supply in some areas of the Visayas and Mindanao will be completely restored before the May 9, 2022 elections.
“Some portions of Southern Cebu, Southern Leyte, Northern Mindanao, and Palawan, are still challenging areas to reach… Will this carry on until the elections? I don’t think so. When the election period comes, I believe it will be back to normal,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said in a virtual press briefing.
The Energy official said volunteers helping to restore transmission lines are increasing.
“From 1,400 (volunteers) we reported on December 23, it has now reached 2,000 by December 25,” Fuentebella said.
He added that routes from Manila going to typhoon-hit areas are already reopening.