Death toll due to Ursula now 41; twelve still missing —NDRRMC

The death toll due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ursula has climbed to 41, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Sunday.

At least 12 people were still missing since the typhoon hit Luzon and Visayas areas during Christmastime, the NDRRMC said in its 6 a.m. situational report.

These were reported from MIMAROPA region as well as from Western, Central and Eastern Visayas regions.

Most of the casualties were recorded in Western Visayas with 20 reported dead.

Amid the onslaught of Ursula, a motor banca with 14 crew members and two fishing boats with three personnel capsized in Oriental Mindoro on Christmas Day.

Three of the crew members in the motor banca were reported dead while others managed to swim towards the coast.

One of the fishing boat personnel was also reported dead, while the other two remained missing.

A total of 1,633,611 people or 399,242 families were affected by the typhoon in 2,044 barangays in MIMAROPA, CARAGA, and Western, Central and Eastern Visayas.

At least 97,503 people or 24,378 families were taking temporary shelter in 529 evacuation centers, while 38,049 people or 8,717 families were outside evacuation centers.

A total of 36,130 homes were totally damaged, while 229,513 partially damaged. 

Ursula also partially damaged 372 schools and 29 health facilities. At least 23 public structures were totally damaged, while 67 were partially damaged.

The cost of damage to infrastructure in Eastern, Central, and Western Visayas, as well as in MIMAROPA and Bicol regions, reached P1,074,292,945, the NDRRMC said.

At least 151 cities and municipalities experienced power outage. Thirty-eight of them have been restored.

Due to the heavy rains brought by Ursula, eight areas were flooded in the towns of Cuartero, Jamindan, and President Roxas in Capiz.

The NDRRMC added that 51 road sections and two bridges were affected. Three road sections and two bridges remained not passable.

A total of 116 domestic flights and three international flights were canceled due to the bad weather. But 104 of the domestic flights and all the international flights have resumed. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News