'Yolanda' death toll jumps to 4,011; Damage cost pegged at P12-B

MANILA, Philippines, - The number of fatalities from the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon "Yolanda" has climbed to more than 4,000 nearly two weeks after the deadly howler slammed into the country.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday morning that a total of 4,011 people have been reported dead, 18,557 others are injured, while 1,602 remain missing.

Majority or 3,310 of the casualties were from the province of Leyte, including 1,060 unidentified bodies from Palo town, 694 from Tacloban City, and 675 from Tolosa and Dulag municipalities.

The NDRRMC said 9.9 million people were affected by the calamity in 574 municipalities and 57 cities.

About 4.4 million residents were displaced after Yolanda leveled communities and damaged 648,160 houses.

The total cost of damages incurred from Yolanda was pegged at P12.2 billion, the NDRRMC said.

The strongest tropical cyclone to hit the country this year barreled across the Visayas on November 8, destroying structures with its powerful winds and storm surges.

Almost two weeks after the disaster, relief operations continue in the affected areas, particularly in Eastern Visayas. However, President Benigno Aquino III and the national government have been criticized for the alleged slow disaster response.

A police officer who has been relieved from his post initially estimated that about 10,000 people may have perished.

However, Aquino had said this estimate was "too much" and that the government was working on a death toll between 2,000 and 2,500.