Masbate most devastated by Opong —NDRRMC

Masbate was the province most devastated by Severe Tropical Storm Opong, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Saturday.

"Ang pinaka-devastated na probinsiya ay ang Masbate sa Bicol Region," NDRRMC spokesperson Junie Castillo said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(The most devastated province is Masbate in the Bicol Region.)

"So 'yung ating response agencies, magmula kahapon and the other day, 'yun tinututukan kung ano ang puwede nating maipadala, tulong na pwedeng i-extend doon in terms of, especially sa linya ng kuryente kasi buong probinsiya ay walang kuryente," he added.

(So our response agencies have been focusing on sending assistance there since yesterday and the other day especially since the entire province lost power.)

Castillo said Opong caused damage to houses and electrical lines in the mainland of Masbate as well as in Ticao and Burias islands, based on images received as well as information reported by the governor, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), and local disaster risk reduction and management offices.

However, the NDRRMC has yet to have a specific assessment of the cost of damage by Opong in Masbate, Castillo said.

Castillo also said four fatalities due to Opong were reported — 3 in Masbate and 1 in Biliran, but these are still being validated.

Aside from Masbate, some areas in Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro still have no electricity, Castillo said, citing information relayed by the Office of Civil Defense and provincial governors.

Castillo said relief goods have already been prepositioned in areas along the storm's path even prior to Opong's entry, and these will be replenished. 

Among the items to be sent are bottled water since some areas had no water supply.

According to the Masbate PDRRMO, more than 8,000 families or 26,000 individuals were affected by Opong in the province and are staying in evacuation centers.

Opong made six landfalls in the country, two of them in Masbate.

It first made landfall in the municipality of Palanas at 4 a.m. on Friday, followed by another landfall over the municipality of Milagros at 5:30 a.m.

Photos shared by the Philippine Red Cross showed part of the devastation suffered by Masbate.

Masbate City folk woke up Friday to toppled trees and electricity posts on the road. There were also roofs from various establishments that were blown away.

Opong became a typhoon again early Saturday before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility on its way to Vietnam. —KG, GMA Integrated News