4.5M impacted by Uwan—OCD

At least 4.5 million people across 11,100 barangays nationwide have been affected or displaced by Super Typhoon Uwan, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported Wednesday evening.

As of noon on Wednesday, the number of affected individuals was equivalent to about 1.3 million families.

The OCD said the reported death toll remained at 27, with 36 injured and two still missing.

Meanwhile, around 196,000 people, or 7,700 families, are staying in 10,000 evacuation centers.

The agency has so far recorded ?126 million worth of infrastructure damage and ?142.3 million in agricultural losses.

OCD Deputy Administrator Bernardo Alejandro IV said response and clearing operations are still ongoing.

At least 28 national roads remain closed, including 13 sections in the Cordillera Administrative Region, five in the Bicol Region, and two in Cagayan Valley.

Alejandro said the Department of Energy (DOE) is working to restore power in Cagayan Valley and Bicol after Uwan damaged several power lines.

Restoration of transmission, distribution, and off-grid facilities is ongoing in Luzon and the Visayas, he added.

Citing the latest update from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Alejandro said communication lines in 53 provinces across 12 regions were affected by the typhoon.

In Catanduanes, one of the hardest-hit provinces, 11 towns—Viga, San Miguel, Panganiban, Pandan, Gigmoto, Caramoran, Baras, Bagamanoc, Virac, San Andres, and Bato—suffered network outages.

“Now, the northeastern part of Catanduanes is the most affected, kaya limitado ang connectivity doon sa area ng Catanduanes (so connectivity in the area is limited),” Alejandro said.

He added that the DICT has deployed emergency communications facilities to provide temporary connections in affected areas.

Alejandro also said Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte were among the most severely affected provinces, while Aurora in Central Luzon and Pangasinan in the Ilocos Region also sustained heavy damage.

According to PAGASA’s 5 p.m. bulletin, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over Batanes as Uwan re-entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility.