6 more fatalities raise confirmed ‘Odette’ death toll to 96

MANILA – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday said six more fatalities from Western Visayas were added to the list of confirmed deaths due to the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.

In its latest situation report, the agency said this increased the confirmed death toll from the typhoon to 96, from Wednesday’s 90.

Western Visayas topped the list with 52 deaths; followed by Eastern Visayas with 18; Mimaropa, 16; Northern Mindanao, seven; Central Visayas, two and the Zamboanga Peninsula, one.

Also, the number of confirmed injured Thursday has climbed to 316 from 205 reported on Wednesday while the number of confirmed missing persons remained at six.

Still undergoing validation are reports of 313 dead, 1,068 injured, and 59 missing.

The number of affected barangays climbed to 9,068 compared to Wednesday’s 8,980.

These communities are located in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, the Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Affected families are placed 2,453,075 which is equivalent to 8,709,417 persons.

Families being aided and sheltered in 1,120 evacuation centers are placed at 56,869 while 32,669 families are being aided outside, with the remainder being helped by families and friends.

‘Odette’ is said to be one of the strongest typhoons to hit the country in December in decades. It swept through areas in the Visayas and Mindanao last year.

The typhoon made nine landfalls between December 16 and 17 in the provinces of Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Palawan.