Yolanda death toll climbs to 5,670

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll left by Super Typhoon Yolanda has increased to 5,670 with 1,761 persons still missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRMC) reported yesterday.

The NDRRMC the other day said that the fatalities had reached 5,632 with 1,759 missing.

NDRRMC executive director Eduardo del Rosario also noted an increase in the number of the storm-affected families from 2,376,137 or a total of 11,236,054 persons the other day to 2,376,210 families yesterday.

Out of the total affected families, 888,253 or 4,094,029 persons were directly displaced by Yolanda and are currently staying at 1,031 evacuation centers that have been set up by the government and non-government groups in various areas of the Visayas.

Most of the storm fatalities and the missing persons came from Samar and Leyte in Eastern Visayas and in Antique, Capiz, Iloilo in Western Visayas.

The number of totally and partially destroyed houses has also risen from last Sunday’s NDRRMC report of 1,168,958 to 1,176,537 houses yesterday.

Estimated cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture also reached P34.3 billion after the storm struck the area last Nov. 8.

Del Rosario said that in 24 days of relief and disaster operations in the storm-ravaged areas, the government and non-governmental groups have already spent P844.8 million worth of food and non-food items for the storm survivors.

Water utilities

Relatedly, in Roxas, Capiz, NDRRMC reported water utilities Metro Roxas Water District and the Municipal Water District have resumed service. However, supply of drinking water remains limited.

In Iloilo, 70 percent of the water utilities are now functioning with operations being handled by the City Engineering Office and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) while in the northern areas of Antique, only 40 percent of the municipal water districts are fully operational.

Antique, Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan, all in Panay, were also ravaged by Yolanda before the storm hit northern area of Palawan. The typhoon also killed hundreds of people when it made landfall in Panay Island.

Most local commercial airliners have resumed flights to and from the Tacloban City Airport.

Cebu Pacific issued an advisory saying that commercial flights are back at the airport in Tacloban since Nov. 20.

Ten flights from Manila and Cebu have resumed: five from Philippine Airlines, four from Cebu Pacific and one from Zest Air.

Cebu Pacific also issued an advisory dated Nov. 28, 2013 for passengers in Tacloban who would like to reroute their flights to the nearest alternate airport.

Cebu Pacific passengers with flights to and from Tacloban City from Nov. 7, 2013 until Jan. 15, 2014 have been advised of the option to rebook their flights or reroute to the nearest alternate airport without penalties, for travel within 120 days.  â€“ With Lalaine Jimenea