'ODETTE' ONSLAUGHT. The municipal hall of Bindoy, Negros Oriental is badly damaged by Typhoon Odette. As of Dec. 24, 2021, the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office reported 73 deaths after the onslaught of the typhoon, the strongest to hit the country this year. (Photo courtesy of Cil Flores)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The number of people who perished during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in Negros Oriental has reached 73 with 21 others still missing, the police reported as response operations by the government and the civilian sectors continue in affected areas.
Col. Germano Mallari, Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial director, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Friday, said as of 6 a.m. of December 24, the death toll in the province remained the same in the past three days.
“We first reported on Wednesday 74 deaths, however, one turned out to be traffic-related. We are hoping there are no more deaths associated with Typhoon Odette in the coming days even though there are still missing persons,” he said in mixed English and Cebuano.
Mallari said 102 people were also reported injured at the height of “Odette”, which lashed out its fury in Negros Oriental in the evening of December 16, leaving a trail of devastation in its path.
The deaths were reported in Bais City, 15; Manjuyod, 14; Bindoy and Mabinay, nine each; Guihulngan City, seven; Tayasan, five; Bayawan City, three; Dauin, Jimalalud, La Libertad, two each; and Bacong, Canlaon City, Dumaguete City, Tanjay City, and Sta. Catalina, with one each.
The missing persons are in Bais City, 17; Manjuyod, three; and Mabinay, one.
Mallari said many parts of the province still have no electricity after electric poles were toppled down by the typhoon.
The towns and cities that already have electricity are Dumaguete, the provincial capital, at 90 percent (27 of 30 barangays energized); Sibulan, 86 percent (13 of 15 barangays); Bacong, 18 percent (four of 22 barangays); Amlan, 60 percent (six of 10 barangays); Dauin, 69 percent (16 of 23 barangays); San Jose, 43 percent (six of 14 barangays); Siaton, 30 percent (eight of 26 barangays); Valencia, 66 percent (16 of 24 barangays); and Zamboanguita, 80 percent (eight of 10 barangays).
Tanjay City, Pamplona, Bais City, Manjuyod, Mabinay, Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan, Jimalalud, La Libertad, Canlaon City, Guihulngan City, Vallehermoso in the north and Sta. Catalina, Bayawan City, and Basay in the south, which have been the most devastated by “Odette”, are still without power although the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and the two electric cooperatives in the province are working 24/7 to slowly energize these areas.
At the height of the storm, the entire province was plunged into darkness due to fallen trees and toppled poles.
The road from Bais City to Mabinay was also already cleared for one-lane traffic as of Thursday, while all other major roads in Negros Oriental are passable, he added.
Mallari assured they have enough personnel for peace and order and other security functions even though their tasks have multiplied following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.
He called on the public to secure their homes especially during Christmas and throughout the holiday season. (PNA)
