NDRRMC: 200,000 affected by ‘Pablo’

MANILA, Philippines – More than 200,000 people have been affected in 22 provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao regions while the death toll rose further to 274 after typhoon “Pablo” (international name Bopha) battered the parts of Mindanao and Visayas.

According to the latest bulletin of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Wednesday evening, 217,850 people have been affected in the provinces that were directly hit by Pablo.

At least 274 fatalities have been reported, many of whom were still unidentified, while 339 were reported injured, NDRRMC said.

A state of calamity has been declared in the province of Surigao del Sur as many areas were still without electricity, it said.

Damages reached a total of P178,340,500: P172,600,000 from infrastructure, P2,520,500 from agriculture, and P3,220,000 from private properties, the report said.

On the status of ports all over the country, 4,388 passengers, 600 rolling cargoes, 102 vessels, 53 motor bancas were still left stranded, NDRRMC said.

At least 177,277 persons are being served in 372 evacuation centers, the report said.

“Pablo” has been spotted by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) at 110 kilometers northwest of Roxas, northern Palawan and was moving slowly northwest at 15 kilometers per hour.

Pablo is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday, Pagasa said.