Death toll rises as Typhoon Phanfone batters central Philippines during Christmas day

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Philippines

At least 28 people have been confirmed dead while 12 others remain missing after the typhoon hits several Philippine islands, forcing some provinces and cities to declare a state of calamity.

Situation Overview

Typhoon Phanfone (locally named Ursula) continues to move away from the Philippines and is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by the morning of 28 December. The typhoon made initial landfall on the evening of 24 December near Salcedo, Eastern Samar, with sustained wind speeds of 120 kph and gusts of up to 150 kph. The storm, brought heavy rain and strong winds as it traversed the Visayas region of central Philippines, exiting the landmass through Mindoro and Palawan, making seven landfalls overall. As the Government validates the extent of damage and number of people affected by the typhoon, official reports confirm casualties have risen to 28 deaths, 2 injured and 12 missing. In Iloilo, a family of six drowned while trying to evacuate to higher ground. As of 27 December, over 185,000 people are affected in 584 barangays (villages) in Regions V, VI, VII, VIII and Caraga. The traversing of the typhoon in Region VIII seemed to have the highest impact, affecting over 146,000 people. Over 52,000 people are still displaced, with nearly 90 per cent staying in evacuation centres, while more than 5,500 are currently staying with host families. On Christmas Day, Typhoon Phanfone knocked out mobile telephone services, power lines, uprooted trees and caused damage to infrastructure, health facilities, schools and homes made of light material. According to local media, the provinces of Leyte, Iloilo and Capiz experienced heavy flooding, while strong winds and rain damaged homes and buildings in Tacloban City, Aklan, Biliran, Eastern Samar and Capiz. In San Enrique, Iloilo, a magnitude-4.8 earthquake also struck on 26 December and was felt by surrounding areas affected by the typhoon. The Typhoon also hit Boracay, Coron and other holiday destinations popular with tourists. Heavy to sometimes intense rain and strong winds caused flooding and damage to over 2,000 homes, toppled power lines and washed out water pipes. Agricultural damage to rice, corn, fisheries and agricultural infrastructure have been estimated at over PhP633 million ($12.4 million) As of 27 December, the provinces of Biliran, Capiz Eastern Samar, Leyte; the municipalities of Medellin and Daanbantayan in Cebu and Tacloban City have declared a state of calamity, enabling them to tap local emergency funding.

Government response and humanitarian coordination

The national government is leading the response, assisted by the Philippine Red Cross who have deployed staff and volunteers to the most-affected areas to establish welfare desks, provide psychosocial and first air support, clear roads of debris, including fallen trees and toppled electricity posts. Food, blankets, tents and other emergency shelter materials, potable water, bedding and basic relief items were identified as priority needs for affected communities. OXFAM and the Philippine’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network are conducting an initial assessment in some of the affected areas. Local authorities together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development have distributed some PhP2.3 million ($45,000) worth of pre-positioned food and relief assistance to date.

For more information, contact:

Mark Bidder, Head of Office, bidder@un.org, Mobile: +63 917 174 3536 Gina Maramag, Public Information Officer, maramag@un.org, Mobile: +63 917 174 3546