Ursula death toll climbs to 47; 9 missing

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll due to Typhoon Ursula increased to 47 yesterday, with nine persons still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The NDRRMC said the missing persons are from Occidental Mindoro and Aklan. 

At least 27,263 families or 111,345 individuals remain in 602 evacuation centers. 

The NDRRMC said the typhoon displaced a total of 482,350 families or close to two million people in 2,304 barangays in the Visayas.

On Panay island alone, the Western Visayas DRRMC said 75,461 houses were destroyed and 35,805 others damaged. Aklan has the most number of destroyed houses  at 16,950.

Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Samar, which were worst affected by the typhoon, were placed under a state of calamity. 

Agriculture damage hits P1 billion

The Department of Agriculture-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operation Center said damage to agriculture has reached almost P1 billion.

At least 17,165 hectares of agricultural land and more than 60,000 farmers were affected in Western, Central and Eastern Visayas as well as in Bicol and Mimaropa.

Damage to the fisheries sector was placed at P587.41 million, with 43,813 fisherfolk affected.

Mindanao power coops

Meanwhile, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said electric cooperatives in Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, Siargao, Surigao del Sur and Davao del Norte sent a 55-man crew dubbed Task Force Kapatid Ursula to help restore power in Samar provinces.

Of the 29 electric cooperatives affected by the typhoon in Eastern Visayas, 13 resumed normal operations based on the monitoring of the NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department. 

The NEA DRRMD said restoration works are ongoing in Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Capiz, Aklan, Iloilo, Cebu, Biliran, Leyte, Eastern Samar and Western Samar. 

In Eastern Samar, power was restored in the municipalities of Arteche, Can-avid, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, San Julian, San Policarpo, Sulat and Taft. 

Electricity was partially restored in Borongan City, Balangkayan and Maydolong. Restoration works are ongoing in Balangiga, Gen. MacArthur, Giporlos, Guiuan, Hernani, Lawaan, Llorente, Mercedes, Quinapondan and Salcedo.

Meanwhile, Sen. Franklin Drilon distributed food packs, blankets and other relief goods to typhoon victims through concerned local government units.

Sen. Christopher ” Bong” Go visited Capiz to distribute assistance.

The senators gave assurance that ”more help” is on the way. – With Louise Maureen Simeon, Jennifer Rendon, Danessa Rivera, Rhodina Villanueva, Paolo Romero