Typhoon death toll nears 500

MANILA, Philippines – Land-based casualties from typhoon “Frank” reached 498 persons killed, 288 injured and 268 still missing, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported yesterday.

The typhoon also displaced 487,412 families or 2,443,646 persons, a majority of them coming from Western Visayas which has the highest number of casualties: 284 dead, 252 missing and 156 injured.

The number of fatalities in Western Visayas is expected to increase as there are still a number of other municipalities that have yet to report the damage left by      typhoon Frank.

NDCC executive director Glenn Rabonza said that out of 498 dead, 221 have already been identified.

The estimated cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture in Southern Tagalog, Western Visayas, Central and Eastern Visayas, Western Mindanao and Northern Mindanao was pegged at P5.5 billion.

Again, Western Visayas suffered the most damage in infrastructure and agriculture at more than P2 billion.

A total of 178,467 houses in 14 regions were damaged by the typhoon, 69,616 of which were totally destroyed.

Rabonza said that as of yesterday, the estimated cost of assistance provided by the agency has already amounted to P22,388,369.

Meanwhile, several hospitals in Western Visayas, especially in Iloilo, remain crowded due to the influx of those injured in massive flooding and other storm-related incidents over the weekend.

“Loaded lahat ang mga hospital dito,” said Carreon, adding that 304,578 individuals are still staying at various evacuation centers, mostly schools.

The military’s C-130 cargo planes have already flown relief goods to Western Visayas like food, medicine and bottled drinking water.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo will go straight to the victims of typhoon Frank upon her arrival from the United States.

Mrs. Arroyo, scheduled to arrive early Monday morning from San Francisco, will proceed to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) headquarters at Villamor Air Base to send off planes-load of relief goods for the typhoon victims. 

The PAF’s planes on mercy missions will take off from the PAF’s 505th Wing. 

A day after her arrival from her 10-day visit to the US, Mrs. Arroyo is also set to fly to Iloilo City where she will not only preside over the regular Tuesday Cabinet meeting, but also meet with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

The NDCC will update the President on the government’s search and rescue/retrieval (SAR) operations for the victims of typhoon Frank, especially the victims of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars of Sulpicio Lines whose ships have been grounded to determine their sea-worthiness.

The President is also expected to go around the areas devastated by the typhoon which has so far left some 1,100 people dead. 

Even while in the US, the President had been issuing directives via video teleconferences with her Cabinet members and with NDCC officials to get to the bottom of the Princess of the Stars tragedy.

Mrs. Arroyo’s directives include giving government aid for ferry disaster victims and their families; and that pending review of Philippine Coast Guard protocol, “no vessel sails if it would pass possible typhoon path.”  – Jaime Laude