Typhoon “Tisoy” (international name Kammuri) left a trail of destruction in Bicol region when it unleashed heavy rains and strong winds starting Monday night.
The local police reported at least one people who died of electrocution in Bicol region while more than 200,000 were displaced as preemptive evacuation were implemented in flood-prone areas and those living near the Mayon Volcano were lahar deposits were feared to flow to the residential areas.
But Sherrie Ann Balingit, information officer of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), said that they are yet to confirm the casualty reported by the police.
“We immediately deployed several teams to check on the impassable roads, damaged houses and other structures and the situation of the evacuees,” Balingit said in a phone interview.
Quoting initial report, Balingit said the weather disturbance caused flooding in several parts of mainland Bicol and also damaged houses and other structures in Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur.
In Albay for instance, the airport located in Legazpi City was damaged due to strong winds unleashed by Tisoy.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the initial assessment conducted disclosed that there are 22 houses damaged in Camarines Sur alone. The figure, however, is expected to balloon as local OCD officials start to gather data.
The entire provinces of Albay, Catanduanes and Masbate are currently hit by power outrage along with some towns in Quezon province, Apayao and Abra.
At least seven transmission lines were initially reported to have been damaged by Tisoy, the reason of the power outage in some provinces affected by the weather disturbance.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 57,918 families or 225,768 persons were evacuated in Bicol, Quezon and several parts of Mindoro provinces.
On the other hand, a total of 6,557 people passengers were stranded in various ports in the eastern part of the country.
A total of 708 cities and municipalities declared class suspension. (Aaron Recuenco)
