Metro Manila, Philippines – The death count from Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) more than doubled as disaster response operations were in high gear in the regions, officials said Tuesday, Nov. 11.
From an initial six fatalities, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported 18 deaths as of 11 a.m, said Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy OCD administrator.
The death toll was 12 in the Cordillera Administrative Region, three in Cagayan Valley, and one each in Bicol, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.
The OCD reported 28 injuries and two others missing.
“As of today (Tuesday), the affected and displaced population ay umaabot na po ng 2.4 million individuals or 653,000 families,” Alejandro said, noting that roughly 11,000 evacuation centers are currently in use.
[Translation: As of today, the affected and displaced population has reached 2.4 million individuals, or 653,000 families.]
Catanduanes among hardest hit
The government said Catanduanes was the hardest hit, and Alejandro said the island-province’s water system restoration will take up to 20 days.
“So we have to attend to the needs doon sa Catanduanes dito sa water supply,” he said.
[Translation: So we have to attend to the water supply in Catanduanes.]
Power is also out in the province, as well as Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte. Alejandro said authorities have asked the Department of Energy to fast-track restoration of electricity in the Bicol Region.
Meanwhile, 10,000 family food packs have reached Catanduanes, and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian is in the province to coordinate with local officials on relief requirements.
