‘Ursula’ death toll climbs to 41: agency

MANILA -- The death toll from Typhoon Ursula, which battered a large portion of the country last week, has now climbed to 41, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) announced on its 6 a.m. update Sunday.

The 41 are recorded at Mimaropa (4-B), Regions 6, 7, and 8, the report signed and released by NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said.

Deaths are broken down as follows: five for Oriental Mindoro; two for Occidental Mindoro; three for Capiz; four for Aklan; 13 for Iloilo; one for Cebu; one for Southern Leyte; five for Leyte; one for Biliran; five for Eastern Samar; and one for Samar.

The agency also reported that 28 others were injured and 12 remain missing in Mimaropa and Regions 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Cen

tral Visayas), and 8 (Eastern Visayas).

Meanwhile, the number of affected families was placed at 399,242 which is equivalent to 1,633,611 individuals residing in 2,044 barangays in Mimaropa, Regions 5 (Bicol), 6, 7, 8 and the Caraga (Region 13).

Of these figures, 24,378 families or 97,503 persons are being sheltered in 529 evacuation centers while another 8,717 families or 38,049 individuals are being aided outside.

The NDRRMC also reported that 265,643 houses were damaged, of which 36,130 were totally and 229,513 were partially damaged in Mimaropa, Regions 6, 7, and 8.