MANILA, Philippines - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has reported the first fatality from super typhoon "Yolanda."
The NDRRMC said the 56-year-old man was killed after an electric post fell on him and was accidentally electrocuted while authorities were conducting a preemptive evacuation in Lingig town, Surigao del Sur on Thursday.
NDRRMC executive director Eduardo del Rosario said the incident was an "isolated" case as local officials in the area should have cut off the power supply during the preemptive evacuation.
"Although isolated case ito, sana pinatay muna yung kuryente dun sa area," del Rosario said.
Meanwhile, the NDRRMC is expecting that the number of people being evacuated before the typhoon has made landfall in Eastern Samar to rise as figures are continuously coming in.
Del Rosario assured that the NDRRMC is continuously monitoring the situation of the preparations of provinces to be affected by the weather disturbance.
He also advised President Benigno Aquino III that there is no need for him to go to the NDRRMC in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City as all the local and provincial chief executives are now closely monitoring the operations on the ground.
"Patuloy ang paghahanda ng different chief executives natin...they are there on hand to help (their constituents) in times of need," del Rosario said.