‘Yolanda’ death toll at 5,680; 1,779 still missing

Typhoon Yolanda survivors pass by hundreds of victims lying in body bags on the roadside until forensic experts can register and bury them in a mass grave outside of Tacloban, Philippines on  Nov. 19, 2013. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Almost a month after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) ravaged Eastern Visayas and nearby provinces, the death toll continues to rise, with 5,680 bodies recovered as of Tuesday morning.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in its latest report said 1,779 people remained missing, especially in Leyte and other areas hit by the deadly storm surge.

Most of the fatalities were from Eastern Visayas, with 2,077 coming from Tacloban City in Leyte alone. This was followed by the municipalities of Tanauan and Palo which recorded death tolls of at least 1,000 each.

Retrieval and clean-up operations in the last few weeks have contributed to the death toll increase as bodies were continuously recovered underneath debris left by the typhoon.

The NDRRMC has also been able to issue a detailed list of fatalities on their website with the names of the victims and their cause of death. Many drowned or died from injuries after being hit by debris at the height of the typhoon last November 8.

With 587,035 houses totally destroyed and another 593,802 houses damaged, the government is shifting its focus to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of typhoon-hit areas.

On Monday, former senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson spoke with media on his plans as the “rehabilitation czar” for areas affected by the super typhoon.

The total cost of damages to infrastructure and agriculture has been pegged at P34 billion, with roads, bridges and other structures sustaining P14 billion worth of damages.

Also pressing is the lack of electricity in many provinces under Regions IV-B, V, VI, VII and VIII.

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