Typhoon Odette kills 18 in Negros Oriental; casualty count to rise once search starts

People line up for drinking water in Bais City, Negros Oriental. Photo by Alex Pal, Inquirer Visayas

DUMAGUETE CITY — Negrenses in the northern towns and cities of the province are still without electricity and drinking water after Supertyphoon Odette claimed 13 lives after slamming Negros Oriental Thursday night until Friday dawn, causing extensive damage to property and agriculture.

Engr. Roseller Lobaton, head of the Bais City Disaster Relief, Rehabilitation, and Management Council, told the Inquirer that as of Sunday, a total of 13 bodies have been recovered in their city alone.

“Only four have been claimed by relatives and the rest are still unidentified,” he said.

Lobaton said he expects the casualty count to rise once they begin search and retrieval operations.

A report by radio station DYWC anchorman Anthony Maginsay also reported 4 killed in Bindoy while several others are missing.

In Dumaguete City, a 32- year-old resident of Barangay Banilad was killed when a mango tree fell on her as she was in bed.

Vice Gov. Mark Macias drove as far as Guihulngan City on Saturday to see the typhoon damage.

After meeting with Board Member Jake Reyes, who lives in Guihulngan, Macias said there might be no need for the Provincial Board to declare a State of Calamity for Negros Oriental as the State of Calamity they had issued over the COVID -9 pandemic has not yet been lifted.

Bais City residents blamed the river control project that contributed to the tragedy because the sudden flood came after the river dike broke.

In Bindoy, the four fatalities belong to the Estoconing family from barangay Salong, who attempted to escape the flooded river. Five family members are still missing.

Ayungon town reported three injured after they were hit by debris.

NORECO II General Manager Fe Marie Dicen Tagle said they have repaired the backbone lines are and currently working on the affected lateral lines in the Pulantubig, Bagacay and Dauin substations.

As of Sunday, NORECO II had also completed repairing the backbone lines for Tanjay, Siaton and Bayawan substations and were just waiting for power from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines while teams continue work on the lateral lines.

Once power is restored in the NORECO II coverage area, the coop will send linemen to join the Task Force Kapatid for Noreco 1 and other Coops in the Negros Island and Region VII, Tagle said.

Typhoon Odette also levelled agricultural crops, sparking fears of a food shortage in the coming months. A businessman in Jimalalud town said Negrenses may not be able to eat bananas for a year.

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo on Thursday ordered the work stoppage at the Capitol beginning noon amid the threat of Typhoon Odette that had begun to bring heavy rains and strong winds in the province.

All government offices and most private offices also sent workers home early last Thursday.