Typhoon Odette death toll in Eastern Visayas reaches 27

TACLOBAN CITY — The number of people who died due to Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) in Eastern Visayas has reached 27.

According to the Philippine National Police in the region, another fatality was reported in the town of Inopacan in Leyte province.

The 26 other fatalities were from Southern Leyte.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region reported that based on their “running data,” there were 121,147 houses that were either damaged or destroyed by Odette, the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the country this year.

Meanwhile, the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has identified 4,823 fishermen who were affected by the typhoon.

It also said that 3,950 fishing boats were damaged due to the typhoon.

BFAR assured affected fishermen that they will be given new boats made of fiberglass.