Special Report Typhoon YOLANDA

Executive Summary

• President Aquino declares State of National Calamity in order to speed up the relief effort.
• PNP deploys 900 cops to restore law and order in areas reported to have massive looting incidents.
• \Proliferation of civil unrest and looting incidents in various areas in the province, wherein local authorities are still trying to control the situation.
•  Numbers of access roads are still inaccessible due to fallen trees and large infrastructure debris.
•  Communication facilities are still limited within specific and key areas of the province.
•  Significant number of families and communities are still having difficulties in getting assistance.
•  Increasing health-related concern may arise as authorities are still having difficulties in attending to the dead bodies.
•  Proliferation of fear that would cause series of civil unrest may be expected as new tropical typhoon (ZORAIDA) head to the province in the next few days

FAST FACTS:

• Yolanda whipped across the central parts of the country for most of Friday, November 8.
• The NDRRMC reported 615,774 individuals in areas affected by the typhoon that were brought in evacuation centers or temporary shelters.
• CASUALTIES (source: AFP):

–           942 dead

• Western Visayas = 39
• Central Visayas = 59
• Eastern Visayas = 844

–          71 injured

–          38 missing

• Some 500 passengers bound for northern Iloilo were reportedly stranded at the Tagbac, Jaro terminal, after buses were forced to turn back due to impassable roads.

·        AREAS UNDER STATE OF CALAMITY:

–          Tacloban City (curfew starting 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.)

–          Iloilo

–          Antique

–          Aklan

–          Capiz

–          Ormoc, Leyte

–          Coron, Palawan

–          Baco, Oriental Mindoro

–          Calapan, Oriental Mindoro

–          Naujan, Oriental Mindoro

Regions of Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga are the main affected areas in the country, and provinces in each region greatly devastated by Yolanda are assessed below:

Weather Update:

As of the moment, Tropical Depression Zoraida was 950 km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and packed maximum winds of 55 kph. It was moving at 28 kph. It may intensify, as it was still at sea where it can gain more strength. Zoraida may follow the same path as Yolanda, with a possibility it will make landfall before dawn of Tuesday.

Forecast of Typhoon Zoraida path:

• Tuesday morning: 400km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur
• Wednesday morning: near Tagbilaran City
• Thursday morning: 170 km west of Coron, Palawan

Storm signals

PAGASA said Storm Signal No. 1 was up over:

• Dinagat Island
• Siargao Island
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Surigao del Sur
• Surigao del Norte
• Davao Oriental
• Davao del Norte
• Samal Island
• Siquijor
• Southern Cebu
• Bohol
• Negros Oriental
• Southern Negros Occidental
• Camiguin

Analysis and Forecast

Generally, there is proliferation of civil unrest and looting incidents in various areas in the province, wherein local authorities are still trying to control. The massive need for food, water, medicine, shelter and relief assistance have triggered alarming civil unrest for the entire province of Leyte after the catastrophe brought by typhoon Yolanda. There is no security personnel in shops and supermarkets, and that relief goods are too slow to arrive. Further, there is lack of police officers in Leyte province since they are also affected by the typhoon and police stations are washed out. Hence, curfew has just recently declared this morning, and that additional military and police supports were also deployed.

In terms of transportation, there are some special flights offered from Manila to Tacloban City and Cebu City. Sea travels are also available in going to Iloilo province, Cebu City and Ormoc City. For now, land travel from Ormoc City to Tacloban City should take the southern route. Some roads are still not possible especially those leading to mountainous areas. Clearing operations are now undergoing to provide access in devastated villages.

Meanwhile, communication facilities are still limited within specific and key areas of the province. There are communication stations established near hospitals, schools, and evacuation centres.

Increasing health-related concern may arise as authorities are still having difficulties in attending to the dead bodies, and may families are being accommodated in limited evacuation centres.

Initial reports claim that several lawless groups were monitored along specific national highways, waiting to ambush incoming relief assistance delegates. Report of Red Cross truck being ransacked in Tanauan was monitored. However, these were already contained as authorities have secured the transport routes of incoming delegates going to evacuation and relief assistance sites.

Nonetheless, lawless elements are still expected to specific remote areas in the province, where assistance have not yet reached. The possibility of some individuals and groups in provoking disorder among evacuation centres and sites are also being considered.

In order to restore law and order in the areas where massive looting are reported, PNP has deployed 900 cops.

Due to the difficulties in handling both dead human and animal bodies, the possibility of an epidemic is also being considered.

Lastly, the incoming typhoon Zoraida also pose possible risk and threats to the province. As this may provoke another unrest to the locals.