Yolanda death toll surpasses PNoy's estimate, now at 3,621

(Updated 6 p.m.) The official death toll from Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) further increased Friday afternoon to 3,621, surpassing the estimate earlier given by President Benigno Aquino III, who is under fire for his administration's alleged slow-paced relief operations.

In a text message, National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Eduardo del Rosario said this figure was based on reports reaching his agency as of 3 p.m. Friday.

The latest figure was a dramatic increase from the death toll given by the NDRRMC on Friday morning, which was at 2,360.

Based on breakdown shown by NDRRMC spokesman Major Rey Balido to defense reporters, most of the fatalities came from Western Visayas. The latest death toll from the region rose to 3,422 from 2,161 on Friday morning.

Aquino earlier estimated that the death toll caused by Yolanda's rampage through central Philippines would be around 2,000 to 2,500, lower than the estimate of a local police official.

Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria, the relieved Eastern Visayas regional police chief, earlier estimated that the death toll could reach 10,000. Eastern Visayas was the most severely hit region by the super typhoon.

Earlier in the day, a Reuters report said a notice board at the Tacloban City Hall estimated the number of deaths to be 4,000.

Huge increase in injured, missing

The NDRRMC also reported a huge increase in the number of injured and missing people in Yolanda's aftermath.

A total of 12,165 people suffered injuries due to typhoon Yolanda, according to the latest NDRRMC report. In its earlier advisory, the NDRRMC reported 3,853 injured.

The latest number of missing people also jumped to 1,140 from 77 on Friday morning. Of this number, 1,124 are from Eastern Visayas.

Palace denies suppressing death toll

Despite these conflicting figures, Malacañang denied it was trying to suppress the death toll from the super typhoon.

"That’s pure speculation. In any calamity that we’ve faced, we’ve always been upfront about the procedure that the NDRRMC adopts when it comes to the identification of casualties," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing.
 
She added "(t)here is no attempt to hide or to fudge any figures. Any assertion otherwise would just be pure speculations at this point.”

Soria needs rest

Meanwhile, Valte supported Philippine National Police information chief Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac's claim that Soria was not axed because of his high estimate on the number of fatalities.

Sindac earlier said Soria's relief was not a punishment but a way to help him overcome the tragedy,

Valte, echoing Sindac, said Soria "has been through so much stress" and that he needs lots of rest.

Malacañang has been under fire even from international media organizations for its alleged lack of preparation and response to the effects of Yolanda.  On Thursday, it admitted it may have had some shortcomings. — KBK, GMA News