A total of 45 individuals died in Cebu province and Cebu City due to storm surge and landslide incidents during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.
Authorities have expressed concern on the possibility of the victim toll to increase in the coming days.
The southern part of Cebu was heavily damaged with several roads still impassable.
The City of Naga was not spared from the typhoon’s wrath, with storm surges reaching 14 feet in height.
“Ang pagtaas ng tubig dito na naka-cause ng baha dito at sa iba pang mga barangay, sa mga coastal barangays. It’s not the flood coming from the mountain, it’s the storm surge,” Naga City Admin. Arthur Villamor said.
“Devastated talaga ang City of Naga, we are overwhelmed. There are 90% barangays na not concrete na household, wala na talaga totally,” he added.
Latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) show that 156 died due to the typhoon, 37 are missing, and 275 were injured.
At least 6,184 houses and 24 infrastructures were damaged. – Report from John Aroa (PTV Cebu)/AG-rir