MANILA, Philippines – The death toll from typhoon Frank (international code name: Fensheng) Thursday jumped to near 500, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
Glenn J. Rabonza, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator and NDCC executive officer, reported that as of 6 a.m., 498 people were reported dead, 288 injured and 263 missing.
The casualties excluded retrieved bodies from the M/V Princess of the Stars that was directly hit by Frank on Saturday and capsized off Sibuyan island in Romblon province.
Frank totally destroyed 69,916 houses and partially damaged 118,851 others, and displaced 487,412 families or 2.4 million individuals.
Mr. Rabonza said hardest-hit Region 6 (Western Visayas) incurred the highest number of casualties with 161 deaths.
He said that the estimated cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture rose to P5.5 billion. The government has so far provided P22.4 million worth of assistance.
Frank exited early this week and hit southern China.
US aid
Meanwhile, six US Navy Seahawk helicopters delivered aid to typhoon-ravaged communities on Panay Island Thursday as part of a pledge by US President George W. Bush.
The helicopters from the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier arrived in Iloilo City in Panay island, which bore the typhoon’s brunt.
"We will use our air assets to transport relief goods into inaccessible areas," said Captain Thomas Lalor, deputy commander of the helicopter group.
"We are here to give the local officials whatever help they require."
The nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group have not yet entered Philippine waters, Mr. Lalor added.
The helicopters will initially bring blankets, food packs and generators to ravaged areas, Philippine civil defense chief Anthony T. Golez, Jr. said, adding that US Navy personnel will also assess how they could help further.
Mr. Bush ordered the carrier group to the Philippines during talks on Tuesday with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Washington, D.C.
"We want to help our friends in a time of need," he told her as they met in the Oval Office.
The Panay provinces, which include Iloilo, Antique and Aklan, suffered massive damages and flooding.
Power and telephone lines are still down in parts of the island and the northern parts of Antique are still isolated due to landslides, the NDCC said.