Siargao now open to tourists after Typhoon Odette devastation, mayor says

Two months after Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) caused devastation in Siargao, the island known as the country's surfing capital has reopened to tourists, Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte Mayor Prosferina Coro said on Monday.

In a radio interview, Coro said the airport and some resorts have resumed their operations.

“Yung iba nag-start na po mag-open. 'Yung iba rin wala pa talaga, sirang-sira…Bukas na po ang tourism natin, unti-unti po,” she said.

(Some have already started opening up. Some are still closed as their establishments were totally damaged. Our tourism is already open, gradually.)

Earlier, Surigao del Norte Representative Francisco Jose Matugas II said almost 99% of the population of Siargao Island, including tourists, were affected by the typhoon.

Odette caused widespread devastation when it cut a path through areas in Mindanao, Visayas, and Palawan.

The reported death toll in the country due to Odette was at 409, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. At least 1,384 people were injured and 65 were missing.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,395,097 houses were damaged—1,031,063 partially and 364,034 totally damaged.

Damage to infrastructure reached P17,300,477,117 while agricultural damage totaled P15,995,375,355. —KG, GMA News