Manila: The death toll from one of the most devastating storms to hit the Philippines in recent years rose to 388 on Monday, the government said, as disease outbreaks threaten some stricken areas.
On 16 and 17 December, Typhoon Rai toppled power lines and trees in the south and center of the Asian nation and triggered deadly flooding that left hundreds of thousands homeless.
The Civil Defense Office in Manila raised the death toll from Rai to 388, with 60 others missing and hundreds injured. Police had earlier put the death toll at 375.
Civil defense officials said more than 4 million people were receiving typhoon aid in 430 cities and towns where some 482,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.
More than 300,000 people are living in evacuation camps, with another 200,000 taking refuge in the homes of relatives or friends.
Some survivors have compared Typhoon Rai to Super Typhoon Haiyan, which killed or went missing in the central Philippines in 2013 and remains the country’s deadliest on record.
The archipelago is hit by an average of 20 cyclones every year.
As the government rushed to bring food, water and clothing to devastated areas, a new threat emerged in recent days with at least 140 people falling ill from suspected contaminated water.
Under Health Secretary Maria Rosario Vergere said 80 people were sickened by acute gastroenteritis in the southern province of Dinagat Islands, while 54 were being treated at a hospital in the neighboring tourist island of Sirgao.
There have been 16 cases of diarrhea in the central city of Cebu.
“We all know that these areas faced water blockage. There is still tap water in some areas, but the pipes have been damaged and hence there is a possibility of contamination,” said Vargiya.
Vergeire said the typhoon also spoiled more than 4,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines and damaged 141 hospitals and clinics, of which only 30 have resumed full operations.
75 killed in typhoon in Philippines, many homes without roof