Over 200 000 displaced in Philippines after Super Typhoon “Haima”

A total of 200 862 people are now displaced in the Philippines Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions I, II, III in northern Luzon, and Regions IV-A and V in southern Luzon after Typhoon "Haima" ripped through the country on October 19, 2016. As of October 22, 116 826 people staying in 939 evacuation centers, while 83 986 people are staying with friends and relatives.

The majority of those, a total of 184 705 people, are located in Regions I, II and III in northern Luzon. There are 7 432 people currently reported displaced in CAR. In the southern Luzon and Bicol regions, 8 905 people remain displaced. As of October 21, there were 13 casualties and while no new casualties have been confirmed today, the number may increase as new reports are validated, UNOCHA said.

The province of Kalinga declared a state of calamity on October 21, enabling the release of additional disaster funds for relief efforts.

There are now 6 308 houses reported damaged or destroyed in CAR and Regions I, II and III, with about half in Region II.

Video courtesy AP

160 municipalities in CAR and Region I are still without power, according to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

So far, CAR and Region I are reporting US$1.4 million (PhP66 million) in damages to rice and corn crops and another $183,000 (P8.6 million) in damages to high-value crops. Region I is also reporting $25,000 (P1.1 million) in estimated damages to fisheries.

There are currently 58 roads and 17 bridges in CAR and Regions I, II and III reported not passable due to flooding, landslides, damage from debris or soil collapses, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Damages to roads, bridges and other structures now totals $12.4 million (P582 million), based on information provided by the regional disaster risk reduction and management offices.

Partner organizations are reporting limited access to clean water in some areas of CAR and Regions I and II, but prioritization remains with debris clearing activities.

The full extent of the damage is still unknown.

Typhoon "Haima" (known in the Philippines as Lawin) made landfall in Peñablanca, Cagayan province, as a Category 4 hurricane equivalent with sustained winds of 225 km/h (140 mph) and gusts of up to 315 km/h (196 mph). It left a broad path of debris, damage to homes, businesses and agriculture, flooding and landslides.

This was the 12^th typhoon of the season to hit the Philippines of average 20 per year.

Super Typhoon "Haiyan," locally known as Yolanda, struck the central Philippines on November 7, 2013, killing at least 6 000 people.

Sustained winds of 315 km/h (195 mph) were recorded at the time of landfall, which makes Haiyan the strongest tropical cyclone on record to make landfall. And with gusts as strong as 380 km/h (235 mph), Haiyan was probably the strongest tropical cyclone ever to hit land anywhere in the world in recorded history.

Data source for Typhoon "Haima" – UN OCHA; Super Typhoon "Haiyan" – TW Archive

Featured image: Damage in the Philippines after Typhoon "Haina" – October 20, 2016. Credit: AP