Rescue and retrieval operations in Cebu in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino. Annie Perez, ABS-CBN News
MANILA -- The number of individuals who died due to Typhoon Tino might still increase, an official from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Wednesday, as recovery efforts continue following the onslaught of the storm.
The OCD earlier reported that Tino killed 66 – around 49 of which came from Cebu, while the other deaths were logged in Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and the Negros Island Region.
Twenty-six others remained missing, according to the agency.
READ: Typhoon Tino death toll soars past 90
"As of this morning, ang pinakamarami ay sa Cebu. Mayroon tayong naitala na 49 na nasawi at isa sa Bohol. Naka-spread ito na marami sa Cebu City. Mayroon din sa Talisay City, sa Liloan, sa Danao City at saka sa Compostela," said OCD Central Visayas Regional Director Joel Erestain in a public briefing.
"Ngayong tanghali may dumarating na reports na vina-validate natin, vine-verify, mukhang madadagdagan pa ng another 20 na nasawi. Naka-spread din yan all throughout Cebu province especially sa central Cebu," Erestain added.
In parts of Cebu, Erestain said that floodwaters came from mountains. This eventually entered subdivisions, characterized by strong currents.
"Dahil sa lakas ng pagdaan ng tubig, ito ay pumasok sa subdivisions na hindi nila inaakalang babahain. Natangay ang iba nating kababayan. Sa ngayon ang naitala nating missing ay 13," he said.
"Yung mga nakatira doon, magagandang bahay, at doon nagkakapatong-patong na sasakyan, hindi rin basta-basta ang brands ng sasakyan diyan. Makikita natin medyo upstream yan pero sa background may bundok, diyan nanggagaling yung tubig," he said.
READ: Tino brought 'worst flash flood' in history of Cebu, says governor
Erestain said they sent advisories and warnings to residents as early as Sunday. Local government units also conducted clearing operations to prepare for the typhoon.
But it cannot be denied, he said, that Tino dumped an overwhelming and huge volume of rainwater in Cebu province, which caused immediate flooding in different upstream areas.
On top of these, he said some rivers overflowed.
"Ang ulan na natanggap ng Cebu ay natanggap lang yan ng isang araw. At ang karamihan nun, mga ilang oras lamang. Kasi ang naitalang taas ng tubig o volume ng tubig na ibinagsak ng Bagyong Tino sa Cebu, umabot sa 183 millimeters as of yesterday morning," he said.
"Hindi pa natatapos ang buong araw na kasama lahat ng ulan, 183 [millimeters] na. Fifty-five [millimeters] ay nabagsak na sa buong isla ng Cebu kasama na ang Lapu-Lapu," he said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC) said at least 53 cities and towns have declared a state of calamity, which allowed local governments to tap emergency funds and impose a price freeze on basic necessities.
Tino had dumped more than a month's worth of rain in just 24 hours in Southern Leyte and Cebu, according to state weather bureau PAGASA.
Entire towns on the island of Cebu have been inundated, while cars, trucks and even massive shipping containers were swept along by muddy floodwaters.