NDRRMC : Yolanda death toll now at 5,598

MANILA, Philippines - The supertyphoon Yolanda death toll in eastern Visayas has jumped to 5,598, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported on Friday.

In its situational update, the NDRRMC also said that the number of injured during the typhoon is still pegged at 26,136 while the tally on missing persons has slightly increased at 1,759.

The NDRRMC said total of cost of damage caused by the devastation has also ballooned to P27.8 billion, with P15.5 billion in infrastructure and P12.2 in agriculture in Regions 4-A-, 4-B, 5, 6, 7, 8, and Caraga.

The total number of persons affected by Yolanda has also risen to almost 11 million in 11,996 barangays in 585 municipalities and 57 cities, the state disaster response agency added.

Out of total affected population, the NDRRMC said that that almost four million were displaced, with more than 219,000 have been sheltered and cared for in 1,095 evacuation areas.

Meanwhile, the national and different local government units and non-government organizations have already provided a total of P630.8 million worth of relief assistance to the affected population, the NDRRMC said.

Over two million food packs were distributed to the affected families in Region 8 as of yesterday, the NDRRMC added.