• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The final tally of the Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) showed 96 fatalities due to Typhoon Tino, with 40 others missing, as of Nov. 19.
A total of 19 fatalities and 10 persons were reported missing in Moises Padilla, topping the list of local government units included in the report.
The final number was established after the OCD, Philippine National Police, and other government agencies reconciled their respective data, following a meeting yesterday.
In Negros Oriental, Canlaon City logged 18 fatalities, and three still missing, while Vallehermoso, with one death.
In Negros Occidental, La Castellana logged 14 fatalities, Hinigaran – 10, Isabela – 8, Bago City – 7, Binalbagan – 6, La Carlota City – 4, San Carlos City – 3, Murcia – 2, and Ilog, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Himamaylan City, with one each.
Authorities have ended the almost two weeks of search, rescue, and retrieval operations of missing persons Nov. 16, upon the advice of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, OCD-NIR director Donato Sermeno III said.
Sermeno, however, said they can continue with it on a case-to-case basis. | GB
