11 killed as ‘Odette’ pummels Region 6

By Jennifer P. Rendon, Glazyl Y. Masculino, and Felipe Celino

At least nine persons were killed in the onslaught of Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) in Western Visayas.

The report is based on the information submitted to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), as of 4:00 p.m. of Dec 17, and reports from local government units.

All fatalities were either hit or pinned by trees toppled by “Odette.”

Two of the fatalities in Negros Occidental were identified as Joemar Sumiling, 32, a resident of Purok Santan, Barangay Balabag, La Carlota City and Candelario Desoyo, 64, of Remedios Street, Barangay 1, San Carlos City.

Sumiling, a security guard, was allegedly hit after a branch of a mango tree fell on him while he was traveling along Cristina Road, Barangay 1, La Carlota City around 10:00 p.m. of December 16.

At that time, Odette made landfall and was pummeling Negros Occidental. The province’s central and southern portions were placed under Typhoon Signal No. 4 while the northern portion including La Carlota City was on Signal No. 3.

Sumiling alighted from his motorcycle, with his crash helmet on, to clear the road. But a tree suddenly fell and hit his head.

Members of the La Carlota City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office responded to the scene of the incident and took the victim to the hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Desoyo, on the other hand, was inside their house when a Gmelina tree fell on her hut and pinned her around 11 p.m. Thursday.

Members of the San Carlos CDRRMO rescued the victim and took her to San Carlos City Hospital but she did not pull though.

In Moises Padilla, three persons, including a five-year-old girl were dead after strong winds caused fallen trees and damaged some houses.

According to Emee Horegue, a nurse in the said town, a 70-year-old man was hit by a fallen tree in Barangay Crossing Magallon last Thursday.

The following day, a 56-year-old man was found stuck on a tree in Barangay Odiong.

Horegue said the man was hit by a branch of tree in the neck that caused his death.

Horegue said that the man insisted to climb their tree to trim its branches despite the bad weather.

Also, a five-year-old girl died after he was buried in the debris when their house in Barangay Macagahay was damaged by strong winds, Horegue said.

“Gin alsa sang hangin ila balay, natampukan gid siya sang mga kahoy-kahoy,” she added.

Horegue said the child’s parents suffered minor injuries, while their two other children were unharmed.

In Iloilo City, a 53-year-old woman died after a bamboo clump fell and hit their house at Zone 5, Barangay Sambag, Jaro, Iloilo City around 12:30 a.m. of December 17.

Rosalyn Caberte was with her husband when the incident happened.

The victim was trapped inside and was retrieved around 2:53 a.m. by responding barangay tanods and personnel from the Jaro Police Station and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

She was taken to West Visayas State University Medical Center but died around 3:35 a.m.

While Caberte’s husband survived the incident, a couple from Sibunag, Guimaras both died after a palm tree hit their house around 2:00 a.m. of Friday.

Spouses Rodolfo Castro, 72, and Virginia Castro, 64, residents of Barangay Ravina, instantly died following the incident.

Meanwhile, a security guard of the University of the Philippines-Visayas (UPV) – Miag-ao Campus died after a tree fell on his post.

Police identified the victim as Antonio Fajurano, 58, a resident of Barangay Malagyan, Miag-ao.

Security guard Kim Calfoforo discovered the unconscious Fajurano, a member of Mt. Carmel Security Agency, around 7:30 a.m. Friday.

The victim was immediately brought to the UPV infirmary but was declared dead on arrival.

As this developed, the Office of Civil Defense 6 (OCD-6) said they are still waiting for official reports from the city and provincial DRRMOs to ascertain the exact number of fatalities that died due to Typhoon Odette.

EVACUATIONS

Meanwhile, Reynaldo Horegue, head of the Moises Padilla Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in Negros Occidental, said more than 100 residents near riverbanks were evacuated since Thursday night.

But no flooding was reported in the town, he added.

Horegue said that an initial of P600,000 worth of agricultural crops and livestock were damaged.

In San Carlos City, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported that a nine-year-old girl was wounded after she was hit by a fallen tree in the island of Sipaway.

At least 800 individuals were also evacuated.

San Carlos City Mayor Rene Gustilo is hopeful that the city can build back better and become more resilient after the Typhoon Odette experience.

Currently, local government agencies and disaster response teams doubled their efforts to restore critical lifelines.

On Thursday night, thousands of Negrenses took shelter in various evacuation centers, while some houses were also damaged due to strong winds.

Flooding was also reported in some areas in central and southern Negros, prompting rescue operations on stranded residents.

The PDRRMO has yet to issue a collective data on the damages.

In Capiz, some 26,785 Capicenos were evacuated because of typhoon “Odette”.

According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Judy Grace Pelaez, preemptive evacuation was enforced even before the typhoon hit Region 6 Thursday evening.

Pelaez said no casualty was reported in the aftermath of the typhoon.