BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The death toll from super typhoon “Odette” in Negros Occidental increased to 34 yesterday.
However, fatalities recorded by local disaster teams and the local police in the southern part of the province had not yet been included in the latest report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), so the casualties could further rise
In the report, Zeaphard Caelian, Negros Occidental’s disaster czar, also estimated the losses to be close to P6 billion.
A summary of the damage and needs presented by Caelian showed partially damaged houses were pegged at P212,780,000 while those totally wrecked at P13,635,000.
Losses to agriculture, meanwhile, was pegged at P4,445,050,801.65 and the damage to livestock was at P488,780,000.
The health sector’s needs, meanwhile, were at P13,602,000 and another P327,768,300 is needed for the province’s food and nutrition.
Infrastructure damage is pegged at P201,000,000 and seaport damage at P12,000,000.
The number of displaced persons is now at 181,110.
Following the PDRRMC meeting, Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson signed an executive order declaring the entire province under a state of calamity.
Super typhoon “Odette” battered the southern part of the province between late Thursday night, Dec. 16, and early Friday morning, Dec. 17.
Among the most heavily hit areas were the cities of Kabankalan and Sipalay, and the town of Ilog.
In Kabankalan City alone, the rains caused flooding to at least 60 to 70 percent of the city, while a large number of casualties was recorded in Sipalay City./PN
