Despite monster typhoon's fury, Southern Leyte records zero casualties

In some miraculous way, the province of Southern Leyte suffered no casualties, even if it was on the path of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) that unleashed 235 kph winds upon landfall on Friday in Eartern Visayas.

“Salamat sa Diyos zero casualties po ang Southern Leyte,” Governor Roger Mercado told "Balitanghali" host Jun Veneracion in an interview Saturday noon, amid reports that in neighboring Tacloban City alone, bodies that littered the streets there could easily add up to over 100.

Mercado said, the weather has already normalized and was beginning to become sunny in his province.

“Mainit na mainit na at normal na ang lahat we are now in the process of rehabilitation, clearing, appropriation and there are already municipalities na accessible na sa transportation,” he said.

“Roads sa mga highways natin passable na going to San Ricardo, Southern Leyte and then siguro mamayang hapon all our highways will be passable already,” he said, adding that most evacuees might be able to return to their houses.

Also, he said that in the City of Maasin, the province's capital, all evacuees have all returned to their homes.

But Mercado said they were having problems with electricity and telecommunications after the typhoon toppled several electric posts.

“Ang telecommunications dito sa Southern Leyte okay. Kaya lang hindi kami maka-contact sa Tacloban at tsaka sa Ormoc,” he said.

Due to this, overall damage assessment in Visayas has been sketchy with some areas being isolated or inaccessible to land and sea travel.

Mercado has sent men to Ormoc City and Tacloban City to help assess damage and verify earlier reports since communication lines have been cut.

A formal request will be sent on Monday to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for emergency shelters for other affected areas in Visayas, he said.

As of Saturday noon the DSWD recorded 944,586 families or 4.28 million people affected by Yolanda in 299 towns, 39 cities, 36 provinces in 9 regions.

Yolanda is the second super typhoon category to hit the Philippines this year. It is also the world's strongest typhoon of 2013 and is ranked fourth in the world's list of strongest typhoons.

Yolanda is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility shortly after Saturday noon. — Andrei Medina /LBG, GMA News