'Tino' death toll rises to 232, 'Uwan' casualties now 25 - OCD

MANILA, November 12 ------ The death toll from Typhoon Tino climbed to 232 while Super Typhoon Uwan killed 25 individuals, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said stressing the agency's continuing search and rescue operations.

In an interview on DZMM, OCD Deputy Administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV disclosed the additional casualties brought by the two consecutive storms. He said Tino left 112 people missing and 512 injured. "Sa bagyong Tino, ang ating numero ay 232 ang reported na patay as of kaninang umaga. Yung missing natin 112, yung injured ay 512. Tumaas yan kahapon 224 ang bilang natin, but ito nga may hinahanap pa tayong missing. Sana matapos na ito at ma-recover na mga missing natin," he stressed.

DEATHS FROM LANDSLIDES

While people were still reeling from Tino’s aftermath, Uwan struck and left several dead, especially in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), he added. "25 na po ang ating reported deaths [sa Uwan], marami jan sa CAR, 19," Alejandro stated. "Sa Region 2 may tatlo, sa Region V isa, Region VI isa, Region VIII isa, so 25 po. Medyo tumaas ito dahil dito sa report na nakuha natin from Cordillera Region. Marami dito landslide ang dahilan ng pagkamatay," he explained.

Alejandro said 29 people have been injured so far, 15 of whom are from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). There are also two missing persons in CAR. The OCD said the clearing operations in areas affected by landslides are still on-going but noted there are no more "isolated" places.

BICOL REGION, EASTERN VISAYAS REGION AMONG THE HARDEST HIT

Uwan severely damaged parts of the Bicol Region, especially Cataduanes, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, according to the OCD. "Punta tayo ng Bicol, talagang matindi ang tama sa Cataduanes, sa Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte in terms of damage. But again, umiikot pa po ang ating mga damage and assessment teams, para makuha talaga yung pinakahuli or updated numbers in terms of damage," Alejandro said.

He said search, rescue, and retrieval (SRR) teams are fully mobilized in the Bicol Region. "Ang hardest hit natin itong Bicol Region so fully mobilized ang SRR teams and mga uniformed personnel kasi sa pagdala ng resources sa Cataduanes, in fact, gumamit tayo ng barko ng Coast Guard at gagamit pa tayo ng mga eroplano d'yab to bring resources." Meanwhile, Samar and Leyte took the brunt of the two storms. "'Yung talagang medyo nadoblehan kung titingnan ay Samar at Leyte area na tinamaan ng Tino rin. 'Yun din ang unang tinamaan ng Uwan. Kaya 'yung lugar ng Eastern Samar, 'yung talagang restoration ng power ay talagang na-delay.

EVACUATION AND CALAMITY AID

Over 12,000 individuals in evacuation centers have already been supported by the government, according to OCD. "12,000 individuals ang napagsilbihan and nabigyan ng tulong sa evacuation centers. Expected naman na mababa na ito and marami rito ay pinapauwi na dahil na-declare nang safe umuwi sa kanilang kabahayaan," Aljeandro explained. He said authorities are assisting families whose homes were destroyed or damaged by the typhoons. "Tinitingnan na lang natin 'yung mga nasiraan ng bahay, 'yun ang matagal konti, but we are moving resources para maayos nila agad ang kanilang kabahayan," he stressed. "So far 10,700 houses ang reported damaged."

Alejandro added the OCD has enough Quick Response Fund (QRF) but budget reinforcement can still be requested once needed. "Mayroon naman kaming QRF, mayroon kaming available. Kapag naubos po 'yan we are allowed to request for replenishment. Binibigyan naman agad ng Department of Budget and Management 'yan."

The OCD said damage to infrastructure has so far reached P108.6 million, though assessments are still ongoing, while no official figure has been released yet for agriculture.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com