More deaths feared as Philippine typhoon toll soars to 108

MANILA • The death toll from the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year rose to 108, official tallies showed yesterday, even as efforts to deliver water and food to devastated islands were ramped up.

The latest figure comes after Bohol provincial governor Arthur Yap said the number of fatalities on the devastated island had reached 72. That took the overall number of reported deaths to 108, according to official data.

Typhoon Rai hit on Thursday and Friday last week, displacing more than 400,000 people, damaged homes and toppled power and communication lines.

The national disaster agency had already reported 31 casualties following the storm, but those figures did not include casualties in Bohol. The agency said it was still awaiting official reports from Bohol and other regions.

In the southern province of Dinagat Islands, the local government yesterday reported 10 deaths, but it was also unclear if those fatalities had already been included in the official tally from the disaster agency.

Most deaths were due to fallen trees and drowning, officials said.

The widespread destruction has made it difficult for the authorities to immediately provide a clear picture about the extent of damage, as communication and power lines have yet to be fully restored in many areas.

Rai, which at one point was a Category 5 storm, made nine landfalls, with a massive trail of destruction also reported in the provinces of Cebu, Leyte, Surigao del Norte, including the popular Siargao surfing destination, and Dinagat Islands.

It uprooted trees, toppled roofs, flattened houses, destroyed infrastructure and flooded many towns, hampering efforts to send much needed aid.

The directive from President Rodrigo Duterte was to "use all government resources to ensure that all goods are delivered as soon as possible" to calamity-stricken areas, presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles told a radio station.

After Rai had displaced more than 400,000 people in the Philippines, it moved toward the South China Sea over the weekend.

In Bohol, home to some of the country's popular tourist destinations, such as the Loboc River, which overflowed, the governor, Mr Arthur Yap, said the number of deaths was based only on partial reports, suggesting the death toll could still rise.

"It is very clear that the damage sustained by Bohol is great and all-encompassing," he said in a video posted on his Facebook account. "People have suffered greatly in terms of destroyed homes and agricultural losses."

About 20 tropical storms hit the Philippines every year, usually causing floods and landslides.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an appeal for 20 million Swiss francs (S$29.6 million) to fund urgent relief and longer term recovery efforts for the estimated 400,000 people who were displaced by Rai.

"Filipinos are rallying together with courage, but after losing everything in this savage storm, international support will enable hundreds of thousands of people to rebuild their homes and decimated livelihoods," said Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon in a statement issued by the IFRC.

He said Red Cross emergency teams are reporting "complete carnage" in the coastal areas. "Homes, hospitals, school and community buildings have been ripped to shreds," Mr Gordon said.

"Our volunteers are providing urgent relief for people who have lost everything, including food, drinking water, first aid, medical care, and somewhere safe to shelter."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS