(Update)Lando’s Death Toll Reaches 58; Damages to Property Hit Php 6-B

Fifty-eight persons were killed while damage to property stood at Php 6 billion due to the onslaught of typhoon Lando in several areas of Luzon, separate reports from regional offices of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), showed on Wednesday.

Cordillera Region has the most fatalities reported at 20 followed by 13 in Central Luzon, nine in Western Visayas, eight in Ilocos region, five in Cagayan Valley, two in Metro Manila, and one in Calabarzon, according to regional units of Office of Civil Defense, PNP AND Coast Guard.

The province of Benguet has 13 reported fatalities, according to PNP.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Sarmiento ordered PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ricardo Marquez to relieve Sr. Supt. David Lacdan as provincial police director in Benguet.

Around 87 people reported injured while nine persons still missing.

For its part, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its latest update that the official death toll from typhoon “Lando” reached 35 while 24 injured persons nationwide as of Wednesday afternoon.

NDRRMC Executive director Alexander Pama said that they continued to verify the reported fatalities.

The NDRRMC did not consider the boat mishap incident in Iloilo that resulted in the death of nine persons as caused by the typhoon.

NDRRMC also reported that the damages stood at Php 6.918 billion (Php 558.99 million in infrastructure and Php 6.359 billion in agriculture).

It added that 992,707 persons were affected while 103,437 were staying inside the evacuation centers in Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, at Central Luzon. (PNA) RMA/CLTC/EDS