‘Yolanda’ death toll rises to 138

Residents in Bogo City look for any items that they can salvage from the ruins brought by Typhoon Yolanda. LITO TECSON/CDN

MANILA, Philippines—The number of lives claimed by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan) has increased to 138 a day after it wreaked havoc across the Visayas region.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), in its 6 p.m. report, also recorded 15 injured and four missing persons.

Majority of the casualties, 118, were from Leyte. All were still unidentified.

A total of 4,282,636 persons have been affected in 36 provinces throughout the Visayas region. An estimated 3,438 houses have also been reported damaged because of the strong winds brought by Yolanda.

The 600 kilometer wide super typhoon, regarded by meteorologists as the strongest ever in recorded history, caused P6,454,769 worth of damages to agriculture and infrastructure, the NDRRMC said.

At least 28 provinces were experiencing power outages while 11 were having trouble establishing communication lines.

President Benigno Aquino III said after a briefing at the NDRRMC headquarters Saturday afternoon that the first priority of authorities was to establish communication and power lines.

In the hardest hit provinces of Samar and Leyte, many areas have not yet been reached because of blocked roads due to fallen trees and electric posts.

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