More ‘Usman’ deaths feared

Documentary video of the New Year’s Day (January 01,2019) Search and Retrieval Operation in Patitinan, Sagñay, Camarines Sur.

Posted by Jess Del Castillo Ortinero on Wednesday, 2 January 2019 Typhoon damage hits P2B

Despite sustained and coordinated efforts from various rescue teams of the government, national disaster officials are apprehensive that the death toll from “Usman” that already reached 126 as of Sunday will continue to climb.

In 2013, super typhoon “Yolanda” killed more than 7,000 people in the Visayas region

This after reports said there are still at least 26 reported missing and more than 100 severely injured, even as search and rescue operations in landslide areas remain a challenge due to piles of sticky mud as well as slippery and unstable soil conditions.

National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesman Edgar Posadas said the supposed ‘mild’ storm that hit the country before New Year, had already claimed 126 lives in various regions mainly due to landslides caused by torrential rains.

“In two days alone, “Usman” poured more than a month’s equivalent of rainfall in the Bicol region,” Posadas said.

He added that search and retrieval operations were being intensified but he also expressed apprehension the death toll will likely climb further with many people still missing.

“I’m afraid the number (of fatalities) will still climb” he said.

While the Bicol region is often hit by deadly typhoons, many people failed to take necessary precautions because the storm was not strong enough to be rated as a typhoon under the government’s storm alert system.

President Rodrigo Duterte visited the storm-hit areas on Friday and urged officials to build evacuation centers instead of using schools as shelters for typhoon victims.

More than 20 typhoons and storms visit the country each year, killing hundreds of people.

In 2013, super typhoon “Yolanda” killed more than 7,000 people in the Visayas region.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC estimated the total damage from the tropical depression could reach P2.73 billion. Of the amount, the losses in agriculture was valued at P758 million.