29 dead due to "Urduja"
Twenty-nine people died, mostly from a landslide in Biliran province, due to Tropical Depression "Urduja" (international name Kai-Tak), authorities said on Sunday.
In a television interview, Biliran Governor Gerry Espina said that 26 people were killed in a landslide in his province while 23 remained missing.
"Now, confirmed deaths are 26 and 23 are still missing as of 4pm," Espina said.
He said 19 people were also injured and a 6,357 individuals were evacuated to safe places.
Espina said a state of calamity would be declared in the province as the capital town was paralyzed after five major bridges were damaged due to Urduja.
The entire province has no electricity supply also, he added.
Meanwhile, an elderly couple in Barangay Mabini, San Fernando, Romblon died after they were trapped inside their house when a landslide hit the village.
Philippine National Police Region 4B (Mimaropa) said the incident transpired at 8am when the couple, identified as Matilde Romero and Masolinie Romero, was trapped and buried alive inside their house.
Masbate Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said a 43-year old woman identified as Gina Alicante was reported dead after she was swept away by flood in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Palanas.
President Rodrigo Duterte said he will personally check the areas affected by the typhoon.
"There’s so much destruction there. There are places that the bridges were cut. And I would like to see for myself what government can do better than what these guys there are doing now," he said in a speech in Davao City.
In a press briefing, National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council spokesperson Romina Marasigan said a total of 20,342 families or 87,719 persons have remained in evacuation centers, while 47 other families or 198 individuals are out of the evacuation centers in areas affected by the weather disturbance.
Marasigan said the casualties from different provinces were due to massive flooding, landslides and falling debris.
In its latest report, NDRRMC has recorded a total of 20 incidents of landslide, flooding, and capsized boat in Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas. A total of 261 areas in Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas were reported flooded.
Some 39 cities and municipalities from Bicol Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga experienced power interruption and outage.
Authorities have estimated that the damage to national roads in the provinces of Eastern Samar and Compostela Valley reached to P35,520,000.
Malacanang said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has mobilized relief operations to the affected parts of the country.
"DSWD-OIC Secretary Emmanuel Leyco assured that his agency has a stockpile of 368,000 family food packs worth P223 million, food and non-food items worth P393 million and available standby funds amounting to P245 million," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Urduja made a landfall in Eastern Samar, Masbate and Sibuyan Island.
It made its fourth landfall over Malay, Aklan on Sunday night.
Tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1 was hoisted over the southern part of Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, Aklan, Antique and Capiz.
Pagasa said a tropical depression outside the Philippine area of responsibility is being monitored and this is expected to enter the country by Friday. Ella Dionisio/DMS
