Yolanda kills 143 in Iloilo province

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - — The Iloilo Provincial Board had declared the province under a state of calamity, while the consolidated report of the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) stated that typhoon Yolanda left behind 132 casualties when it struck the province last Nov. 8.

The town with the most deaths was Estancia with 75, according to Vice Mayor Butching Aclaro. Of the number, 30 were fishermen believed to be from Masbate province who sought refuge in his town but were killed instead by the storm surge.

Municipal officials decided to bury the casualties in a mass grave Sunday. Aclarao added some bodies have not been pulled from the debris while others were strewn on the streets.

Other deaths were in the coastal town of Carles with 13, Batad town had 11, Concepcion (nine), San Dionisio (seven), Balasan and Ajuy (six each), Passi City (five), San Enrique (two) and Sara, Tubungan, Calinog, Lemery, San Miguel, Dueñas, Zarraga, Barotac Viejo and Lambunao (one each).

The number of casualties from Yolanda may swell further, as lines of communication were slowly restored in Iloilo province. Aletha Nogra of the Office of Civil Defense-Reg. 6 said the number of missing individuals could account for such possibility.

The PDRRMC report also said Yolanda affected 14 towns of the province with 146, 451 families or close to 86,000 houses damaged. The Council had utilized its P21-million quick response fund to help the victims with food packs, medicines and tents, among others, said its executive officer Jerry Bionat.

Since most areas were difficult to access, delivery of petroleum fuel was also hampered. In Sara town, candles have run out in stores while gasoline price hit P70 per liter. Authorities have yet to receive official report of looting.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division has set up a regional command center in Western Visayas and one in Panay Island with four sub-command centers in Estancia town of Iloilo, Roxas City in Capiz, Kalibo in Aklan and in Antique province. They will help in relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Meanwhile, some towns in Panay Island will be reenergized three weeks from now. This after 134 transmission towers of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) were toppled by Yolanda, particularly in Aklan and Capiz provinces.  (FREEMAN)