OCD cuts reported death toll in Bicol down to 17

The number of fatalities in the Bicol Region due to Super Typhoon Rolly is now at 17, the Office of Civil Defense V said Wednesday.

The OCD V on Tuesday reported that the death toll in the region due to the onslaught of the cyclone stood at 19.

On Wednesday night, it said the two deaths in Guinobatan were still missing from the Department of Health Region V report and thus were omitted from the tally.

Earlier, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the number of deaths due to Rolly climbed to 20. The said casualties came from CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and the Bicol Region.

In its latest situation report, OCD V indicated that 11 of the victims from the Bicol Region were from Albay (Daraga, 1; Guinobatan, 5; Malinao, 3; Tabaco City, 2), five were from Catanduanes (Gigmoto, 1; Virac, 3; San Miguel, 1), and one from Camaligan, Camarines Sur.

Meanwhile, a total of three individuals from Guinobatan were missing.

A total of 160 persons were also injured in the region due to the typhoon.

The OCD V also said 130,634 families or 112,555 individuals were displaced by Rolly.

Of this number, at least 25,132 families or 94,469 persons are taking shelter in evacuation centers, while 5,502 families or 18,086 persons are outside evacuation centers.

The OCD V also said that 27,588 houses in the region were totally damaged and 129,259 were partially damaged.

The Department of Agriculture in Region 5 reported over P2.4 billion in losses after more than 58,000 hectares of agricultural areas were hit by the typhoon.

The Department of Public Works and Highways reported that the cost of damage to infrastructure reached more than P4.6 billion and this included national roads, bridges, and flood control. -NB, GMA News