Odette fiercest tropical cyclone to hit the country in 2021 –NDRRMC

Typhoon Odette could be considered the fiercest tropical cyclone to hit the country this year, the spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Monday.

In a press briefing, NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal was asked if Odette was the most destructive typhoon since Yolanda or Haiyan in 2013.

“Siguro sa taon na ito, ito po yung pinakamalupit na bagyo na ating dinanas," said Timbal.

(Perhaps for this year, this was the most powerful we have experienced.)

However, Timbal claimed that, unlike previous "devastating" typhoons, local government and the public preparedness was more focused this time, citing the over 400,000 potential victims of Odette who were preemptively evacuated.

A total of 58 people were reported dead, 199 were injured, and 18 were missing due to Typhoon Odette, the NDRRMC said on Monday.

Timbal noted that only four were confirmed dead while the reports on the 54 fatalities were still being validated.

“In the NDRRMC level, apat pa rin po ang kumpirmado na. The rest, out of the 58, bale 54, were still in the process of receiving the verified reports of these casualties,” he explained.

As to a Philippine National Police report which said that 211 people were killed due to the typhoon, Timbal said the PNP report was still being investigated.

Meanwhile,442,424 people were displaced while 385,086 individuals were preemptively evacuated, according to the NDRRMC.

It added that 2,435 evacuation centers were opened for the victims.

A total of 997,665 people or 276,522 families in 2,961 barangays were affected by the typhoon.

The NDRRMC said 3,803 homes and 16 structures were damaged. A total of P225,170 worth of infrastructure damage was reported.

Also, 5,391 hectares of crops, as well as 15 livestock and poultry facilities, were damaged. Agriculture damage was valued at P118,284,774.

The NDRRMC also reported that 118 seaports and four airports were affected. At least 41 roads and four bridge sections were also affected.

At least 227 cities and municipalities experienced power interruptions, one area had water problems, and 136 localities had communication line issues.

The NDRRMC monitored 75 flooded areas.

According to Timbal, the areas most affected by Odette were northeastern Mindanao, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Palawan. — DVM, GMA News