4 confirmed dead due to Odette; 334,470 preemptively evacuated –NDRRMC

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported on Saturday afternoon that four people were confirmed to have died due to Typhoon Odette.

Speaking at a Laging Handa briefing, NDRRMC Spokesperson Mark Timbal also said that 334,470 residents had also been preemptively evacuated because of the typhoon.

The evacuees were from Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, Region 9, the Mimaropa Region, and the Caraga Region.

Some 5,564 sea travelers were meanwhile left stranded at ports in the Calabarzon Region, Mimaropa, Region 5, Region 6, Region 8, Region 9, and Caraga.

Some 73 seaports in the affected areas were still nonoperational as of Saturday.

While some of these ports were still being evaluated for damage, Timbal said that the resumption of sea travel was a decision for the Philippine Ports Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard.

Timbal also reported that there were 8 major flooding incidents in Region 6 and the BARMM, with landslides reported in Regions 8 and 11.

While NDRRMC ground teams were still evaluating the damage from Odette, another NDDRMC team was on Siargao to help establish communications with  the island.

Power and telecommunications were also out across areas affected by Odette. However, Timbal said that electricity and telecommunications companies had committed themselves to restoring services as soon as possible.

The NDRRMC, for its part, had promised local governments that their requests for relief and assistance would be addressed.

Relief goods had been pre-positioned around affected areas, with the Philippine Armed Forces and private transport services ready to provide logistical support. — DVM, GMA News