Manila, (Samajweekly) The death toll from typhoon Vamco that slammed the Philippines’ main island of Luzon has increased to seven, a government disaster management agency said.
In its latest update on Thursday, the Office of Civil Defence (OCD) said besides the victims, four people were also reported missing, Xinhua news agency reported.
Vamco lashed a big part of Luzon island, home to 110 million people, from Wednesday to Thursday while the country is still reeling from typhoon Goni, the most powerful typhoon in the world this year.
President Rodrigo Duterte conducted an aerial inspection of areas hit by Vamco, including Marikina City and Rizal province, where hundreds of people were stranded due to massive flooding.
“I renew my call on all local government units and concerned agencies to ensure that the well-being and safety of our people remain the top priority,” he said in a televised public address.
The President assured the people that the government “will do its best to assist in the form of shelters, relief goods, financial aid, and post-disaster counselling”.
“Rest assured, the government will not leave anybody behind. We will get through this crisis,” Duterte said.
Typhoon Vamco, the third powerful cyclone to batter the Philippines in 11 days, made landfall on Wednesday night, unleashed fierce winds and intense rains that triggered landslide, rockslide, and flash floods that left neighbourhoods submerged and people appealing for aid and rescue.
It also caused a massive power outage in Metro Manila and several provinces.
Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is among the most disaster-prone countries in the world, including active volcanoes, frequent earthquakes, and an average of 20 typhoons a year, causing floods and landslides.
