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The death toll from tropical storm "Sendong" (Washi) jumped to 1,453 as of Tuesday morning as more bodies were retrieved, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

 

In its 6 a.m. update, the NDRRMC also temporarily brought down to 84 the number of people deemed as missing, with some 1,023 "missing" still subject for verification.

 

At least 4,594 people were also reported injured in the wake of "Sendong," the NDRRMC said.

 

The NDRRMC added "Sendong" has so far affected 113,336 families or 719,485 people in 789 villages in 56 towns and eight cities in 13 provinces. Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities were among the hardest hit areas.

 

Of these, 11,441 families or 54,795 people are still being served in 56 evacuation centers.

 

Also, the NDRRMC said the estimated damage to property went up to P1,143,671,975, including P37,115,975 in agriculture and P1,106,556,000 in infrastructure.

 

It added 12,805 houses were destroyed while 29,520 were damaged.

 

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC reiterated there is a need for potable water, water purifiers, and portable tents and food.

 

K9 teams losing effectiveness?

 

Meanwhile, NDRRMC head Benito Ramos hinted late Monday the K-9 teams brought to areas hit by “Sendong” may be losing their effectiveness as the search operations drag on.

 

Ramos said search dogs may find it hard to detect human scents especially in areas where the mud had mixed human and animal remains.

 

“’Pag naghalo-halo na, hindi na niya alam ang tao sa baboy (Once the scents of human and animal remains get mixed, the K-9 units will find it harder to distinguish human remains from that of pigs),” Ramos said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

He said this may become even harder if the mud mixes with the human and animal remains, and eventually hardens. –KG, GMA News