‘Sendong’ death toll could exceed 1,000, says OCD administrator Ramos

MANILA, Philippines—Office of Civil Defense administrator Benito Ramos said Tuesday they expect the death toll due to Tropical Storm “Sendong” to exceed 1,000 adding that authorities have already lost count on the number of missing.

In a telephone conference with members of the Defense Press Corps, Ramos said the official tally remains at 957.

However, in a separate report, 4th Infantry Division spokesman Major Eugenio Julio Osias reported that as of 2 p.m., they have recovered 616 bodies while 555 persons still remain missing.

In Iligan City, 1st Division Assistant Division Commander Brigadier General Roland Amarille, said that as of around 3 p.m., the death toll due to “Sendong” in Iligan has reached 283 while the number of missing skyrocketed to 406 persons. The increase came about after residents reported more relatives to be missing, Amarille said.

As of 6 p.m., the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management reported the death toll in other affected areas as follows: Bukidnon-47; Negros Oriental-38; Compostela Valley-5; Lanao del Sur-4; and one each in Surigao del Sur and Cebu.

This brings the unofficial tally to 998.

Ramos said that thousands more remain inside evacuation centers.

He said the situation inside evacuation centers remains normal and no outbreaks of diseased have so far been monitored. Ramos added they still have enough food supply for the evacuees but he expressed they are worrying as to how authorities will be able to sustain them for a long period of time. Ramos said that they expect the evacuees to spend their Christmas and New Year’s days inside evacuation centers.