The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Friday evening (Dec. 17) that 12 individuals died during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.
Based on the initial report shared by NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad, there are six casualties in Region VI, four in Region 7, and one each in Region 8 and 10.
LOOK: Impact of #OdettePH in Region 7
NDRRMC Exec. Dir. Jalad says 4 casualties were reported in Region 7, adds that the flooding in Loboc, Bohol “is slowly subsiding.” pic.twitter.com/rHyoEi8wfZ
— PTVph (@PTVph) December 17, 2021
Seven individuals also went missing while two others were injured. The total affected population and total cost of damage has yet to be determined, but among the regions at risk are Regions 4B, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Caraga.
LOOK: Brief summary of the impact of #OdettePH shows 12 deaths, 7 missing, and 2 injured during the typhoon’s onslaught pic.twitter.com/YJrUQblSaU
— PTVph (@PTVph) December 17, 2021
Jalad said 338,664 individuals or 84,674 families were preemptively evacuated, and that no landslide incidents were recorded. Responders have yet to restore power and communication lines in several areas, while search, rescue, and retrieval operations will continue.
“I would also like to mention, Mr. President, that much of our relief goods and food supplies from DSWD are already pre-positioned in different regional offices,” Jalad said.
PRRD visit
President Rodrigo Duterte said during the NDRRMC briefing on Friday evening that he will personally visit the areas hit hard by the typhoon in Visayas and Mindanao on Saturday.
“I am flying tomorrow to the area, also I would hit maybe Leyte, Surigao and if there’s enough time, Bohol, then the day after I would try to visit Cebu. And dito sa eastern, western side of the islands, Bacolod, Iloilo,” he said.
Duterte said they are trying to raise the funds to respond to the impact of the typhoon, noting that the country’s budget has been focused on the pandemic response.
“I’m not so much worried about the damage to structures, infrastructures of government. Ang takot ko kung maraming namatay,” he said.
“I was talking with the budget [department]. Depleted ang budget natin immensely because of COVID, naubos talaga ang pera natin. Maybe we prioritize the expenses, these typhoons [are] imponderable,” he added. – Report from Mela Lesmoras/AG-rir
