Death toll of Saola rises to 26 in Philippines

MANILA - Twelve more deaths were confirmed as typhoon Saola battered various parts of the Philippines, bringing the total death toll to 26, the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council announced Thursday.

Children sit on a bicycle cart (L) as adults push it through floodwaters brought on by Typhoon Saola, locally named Gener, at Navotas city, north of Manila August 2, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

NDRRMC executive officer and concurrent Office of Civil Defense administrator Benito Ramos said the new fatalities included four people who drowned respectively in Ilocos Sur and Bulacan provinces. A man in Capiz died after he was electrocuted. Seven others were hit by fallen trees.

Ramos said the four fishermen from Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, previously reported as missing aboard motor bancas, have already been rescued.

Meanwhile, Ramos said, the number of affected population has risen to 331,588, among which 12,000 people were housed in 61 evacuation centers where they are being taken cared of by relief workers.

About 2,786 houses were either destroyed or damaged by the typhoon. Damage to property was initially placed at 2.13 million pesos ($50,993).