Bicol region reels from “Rolly’s” wrath; death toll now at 17
MANILA – National and local government officials have focused their attention to Catanduanes, Albay and Camarines Sur provinces which took the blunt of “Rolly’s” fury early Sunday morning until past midday yesterday as electric posts and high tension wires fell as strong winds of up to 310 kilometers per hour lashed through the fertile lands and coconut plantations.
In a remote briefing conducted for Malacanang-based President Rodrigo Duterte and the members of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council at Camp Aguinaldo, Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad said 12 regions were affected by “Rolly” yesterday.
“’Rolly’ affected 372,716 families or 1,468,296 persons where 11 were reported to have died, nine from Albay, one each for Catanduanes and Rizal province. There were two injuries, one from Sorsogon and another one from Quezon,” Undersecretary Jalad said.
In another government report, it was learned there were already 17 casualties, 16 of who are from the Bicol Region while one was from CALABARZON or Region IV-A.
He added they are in the process of assessing the damages in agriculture, housing, power sector and roads, bridges and flood control projects.
The Office of Civil Defense administrator added 19 road sections and four bridges were affected by the super typhoon in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol and Cordillera regions. Towns and cities in the Bicol Region experienced power interruptions.
The NDRRMC has reestablished the communication link with Catanduanes by 11:00 A.M., Monday through the Rapid Emergency Telecoms Team from Manila and transported by way of Philippine Coast Guard’s aviation group.
Over in Catanduances, Governor Joseph Cua, in a news conference said more than 13,000 homes were affected by “Rolly” as some were damaged by the weather disturbance’s storm surge.
He added despite the improvement in weather conditions, they have no air and sea transport. About 90% of the infrastructure in the island province was reported to have been severely damaged.
President Rodrigo Duterte had a whistle-stop in Guinobatan, Albay and saw for himself the damaged done by “Rolly” to some 150 homes in a village near the Daang Maharlika. (Melo M. Acuña)
Office of Civil Defense officials on board a Philippine Coast Guard helicopter and bound for Virac, Catanduanes. (Contributed Photos)
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