'Nona' death toll in Samar provinces climbs to 12

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 21 (PNA) –- The death toll in Samar provinces has climbed to 12 one week after typhoon "Nona's" devastation, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reported on Monday.

Casualties have been reported in the towns of Allen, Lope de Vega, Mondragon, Catarman, San Roque, and Victoria in northern Samar and Matuguinao, Samar.

Of the 12 victims, four have died due to drowning, two due to hypothermia, two due to injuries, two due to trauma, one due to electrocution, and one due to loss of consciousness.

Nearly 900 persons in three Samar provinces were reportedly injured. At least 15 of them have been admitted in hospitals.

Typhoon "Nona’s" fierce winds has destroyed 94,857 houses in Samar island, with 14,439 categorized as totally wrecked and 80,418 are partially damaged.

The weather disturbance has affected 544,805 persons with 33,248 still in evacuation centers.

The agriculture and fishery sectors have suffered PHP129.64 million production loss, according to estimates of the Department of Agriculture.

The RDRRMC have deployed teams last week in different northern Samar towns to conduct rapid damage assessment and needs analysis.

National government agencies have set up operation centers in the badly-hit province to facilitate the delivery of assistance in communities pummelled by typhoon Nona last week. (PNA)
JMC/Sarwell Q. Meniano