‘Ulysses’ death toll rises to 39

November 14, 2020

Rescue operations in Isabela following the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses. (Department of Transportation/Facebook)

The number of deaths after Typhoon Vamco (Philippine name: Ulysses) hit the Philippines on Nov. 12 rose to 39, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay said Friday.

The data came from the AFP search teams, Philippine National Police (PNP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) who conducted search operations in regions battered by the typhoon.

Gapay added soldiers have saved 2,716 individuals in the National Capital Region, Rizal and Bicol Region; and evacuated 11 injured people.

“So all in all, our search, rescue (and) retrieval cluster saved 138,272 individuals,” sa Gapay.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a briefing, however, that the bodies have yet to be verified as to whether caused by Ulysses.

During the meeting, PNP and AFP records showed that the fatalities were discovered in Metro Manila (2), Calabarzon (at least 12), Cagayan Valley (7), Cordillera Administrative Region (at least 1), Central Luzon (at least 4), Bicol (at least 3), Caraga (at least 2).

Forty individuals were also injured and 22 are still missing, according to the reports made by the Search, Rescue, and Retrieval cluster.

Ulysses caused widespread flooding similar to that of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009 which left 464 dead and 529 injured.

The typhoon also battered areas still reeling from Typhoon Goni (Philippine name: Rolly), considered the world’s most powerful typhoon this year.